Torchbearers scorch Geckos

Agape Christian School’s Jonathan Xiong goes up for an off-balance shot against Saipan International School’s A.J. Hudkins during their game in the CCOPSA caging yesterday at Agape’s court in Gualo Rai. (Roby N. Pamintuan)

Agape Christian School 1 hammered Saipan International School, 85-53, during the lone game in the 2018-2019 Commonwealth Coalition of Private Schools Association Varsity Basketball League yesterday.

The Torchbearers roasted the Geckos right from the opening tip for the convincing victory at the former’s court in Gualo Rai.

Agape 1 took a 22-12 lead after the first period, thanks to Silas Xu. The Agape player came off the bench and blindsided the Geckos, as he scored 9 points, while Jonathan Xiong churned out 8, and starting center Mark Shao cleaned up after his teammates’ misses for two putbacks. A.J. Hudkins and Jason Sablan each netted 4 markers in the opening period for SIS, while Michael Lee and Kuu Nishimura had one basket apiece.

Xu continued to deliver for Agape 1, adding 8 more points in the second quarter. Shao also used his ceiling to knock in two more point-blank baskets, while Xiong and John Chen each logged 4 more to hand the Torchbearers a 44-21 advantage in the first half.

Agape picked up where they left off in the second half en route to the 32-point winning margin.

Xu converted a 3-point play to start the third canto, Xiong picked the Geckos’ pockets several times and cashed in on three fast break baskets, while Shao struck again from the paint. When the third period wrapped up, Agape 1 was enjoying a comfortable lead, 56-34.

Then in the final period, the Torchbearers upped the ante, behind Xiong’s 14-point outburst. Xu chipped in 9 markers, while reserves Steven Yaomin and Jerry Yuan combined for 6. While Agape 1 went for the kill in the fourth canto, SIS only got one triple apiece from Hudkins, Lee, and Henry Qian, and as the Geckos simply could not match the Torchbearers’ firepower.

Xiong finished the game with 32 points, while Xu added 30. Mark Shao also had double figures with his 10 points, while Hudkins, Lee, and Jason Sablan mustered 14,13, and 12 points, respectively, for the Geckos.

Agape 1 improved to an 8-5 card, while SIS fell to a 5-6 slate. The two teams face off again today at the Geckos court in As Lito for their last game in the regular season.

Also scheduled this afternoon is the semis match between GCA and Agape in the girls division with the winner battling Mt. Carmel School in the title game this Friday.

ACS 1 85—Xiong 32, Xu 30, Shao 10, Yoomin, 6, Chen 4, Yuan 2, Wang 1
SIS 53—Hudkins 14, Lee 13, Jason Sablan 12, Qian 5, J.P. Sablan 4, Nishimura 3
Scoring by quarters: 22-12, 44-21, 56-34, 85-53.