Favored teams advance

Agape Christian School 1’s Mark Shao blocks the shot of Saipan International School’s Kuu Nishimura during their playoff game in the CCOPSA caging yesterday at the Agape court in Gualo Rai. (Roby N. Pamintuan)

The Top 4 finishers in the regular season of the 2018-2019 Commonwealth Coalition of Private Schools Association Varsity Basketball League all made it to the semifinals after beating their respective opponents yesterday.

Over at the Agape Christian School court in Gualo Rai, No. 4 Agape 1 advanced after dominating No. 5 Saipan International School, 71-43.

The Torchbearers were off to a strong start, scoring 21 points in the first quarter and then buried the Geckos with a 23-point output in the final canto.

Kobe Yang returned from a two-game absence due to illness and made his presence felt when he kicked off the game with a floater. He Jonathan Xiong, and Silas Xu were off to the races, as they combined for 12 fastbreak points, while the towering Mark Shao struck hard with two putbacks, giving Agape a 21-13 advantage.

The Geckos got their baker’s dozen off Michael Lee’s 5 points and baskets from siblings Jason and J.P. Sablan and Kuu Nishimura.

In the second canto, Yang and Xiong continued to cause problems to SIS’ defense, as the duo accounted for 9 markers, while Shao, Xu, and Peter Wang each hit shots to pull away even further, 36-23.

Wang and Yang then teamed up when action resumed in the third period, as they scored all of Agape’s 12 points, while the Geckos were held to just 8 markers. Then in the final canto, Shao did the damage in the paint with four point-blank shots, while Yang and Xu connected on a couple of fancy plays, as the Torchbearers ended the game in style.

Yang led all scorers with 24 points, while Shao and Xiong submitted 14 each, and Xu added 13. Jason Sablan netted 12 points and Lee logged 11 markers.

Meanwhile, joining Agape 1 in the semis were No. 1 Kagman, No. 2 Mt. Carmel School 1, and No. 3 Saipan Southern High School.

Kagman overpowered No. 8 Agape 2, 102-58.

Kobe Lifoifoi top-scored for the Ayuyus with his 23 markers, while Henry Aguon, Chris Sacdalan, and Mustafa Augustino logged 14, 13, and 10 points, respectively.

The Ayuyus leaned on their hot shooting from beyond the arc to demolish Agape 2, as the former knocked in 16 shots from deep.

After eliminating Agape 2, next up for Kagman is Agape 1, as they battle for the first finals ticket today in the 3:30pm match at the Koblerville Gymnasium.

The other finals berth will be disputed by MCS 1 and Saipan Southern, which ousted No. 7 Grace Christian Academy, 78-24, and MCS 2, 69-32, respectively.

The Knights 1 was led by Chioni Delacruz and Matthew Ong’s 14 and 13 points, while Seung Jun Baek finished with 14 markers on a losing effort.

Agape 1 71 —Yang 24, Shao 14, Xiong 14, Xu 13, Wang 6.
SIS 43 — Jason Sablan 12, Lee 11, J.P. Sablan 8, Nishimura 7, Hudkins 3, Guo 2.
Scoring by quarters: 21-13, 36-23, 48-31, 71-43