Diaz caging starts U15 playoffs today

The 670 Akkeri’s Kyle Rios, right, tries to get away from the defense of the 670 Sonics’ Sean Rabasto, center, during their game in the men’s division of the MIBF island-wide caging at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Jon Perez)

The race for the two finals berths in the boys U15 division of the 2018 Frank M. Diaz Memorial Youth League begins today with the second-seeded Saipan Vegas taking on the last placers Dandan Sonics in a playoff game at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Saipan Vegas finished the regular season with a 4-2 record after routing Bruce Almighty in last Saturday’s make-up match, 66-40. Saipan Vegas won the three-way tie for the No. 2 seed, relegating the RT Law NMI Rollers and NSA Young Warriors to No. 3 and 4, respectively. The 670 Sonics (6-0), Bruce Almighty (2-4), Marauders NM Rollers (1-5), and Dandan Sonics (0-6) completed the team standings.

The Dandan Sonics and Saipan Vegas will face off in the single-elimination playoffs with the winner advancing to the semis and meeting the victor in the RT Law NMI Rollers-Marauders NMI Rollers tiff in the battle for the second finals seat. The Law NMI Rollers-Marauders NMI Rollers match is set for 6:15pm today, while the Dandan Sonics-Saipan Vegas game will start at 5pm.

This Thursday, it will be the NSA Young Warriors versus Bruce Almighty and the team that will prevail will challenge the No. 1 seed 670 Sonics, who automatically moved into the semis after topping the regular season. The two Final Four games will be played on May 1, while the winner-take-all finals will be held on May 3.

Saipan Vegas will go into the postseason with momentum on its side following its demolition of Bruce Almighty.

Francisco Mizutani led Saipan Vegas’ easy win after firing 16 points. Donavin Deleon Guerrero and Steve King chipped in 14 and 13, respectively, while Anthony Lazaro also finished in twin digits with 11, 8 of them came in the final half.

Juan Guerrero had 20 markers on a losing effort for Bruce Almighty.

Meanwhile, Marauders NMI Rollers split its final two games in the regular season last Saturday.

Marauders NMI Rollers first edged Dandan Sonics, 40-32, before bowing to sister team RT Law NMI Rollers, 26-54.

Against the Dandan Sonics, Gerald Beronio dropped 14 of his 17 points in the second half to lift the Marauders NMI Rollers to its lone win in the competition. He scored 6 of the squad’s last 8 points to foil the Dandan Sonics’ comeback bid.

Versus RT Law NMI Rollers, Beronio also finished in twin digits with his 11 markers, but he lacked support from his teammates, allowing their foes to cruise to victory.

Tars Kapwich and Ervin Villarin teamed up in powering the RT Law NMI Rollers to the 28-point winning margin after recording 13 and 12 points, respectively.