GCA sweeps SDA

Grace Christian Academy’s Justin Du pulls up for a shot against the Seventh Day Adventist defenders during their middle school game in the CCOPSA caging yesterday at the SDA court in Chalan Kiya. (Roby N. Pamintuan)

Grace Christian Academy is back on track after defeating the Seventh Day Adventist, 32-20, in the Commonwealth Coalition of Private Schools Association Middle School Basketball League yesterday at SDA’s court.

The Eagles, who dropped back-to-back games, banked on their 20-2 scoring run in the first half to improve their record to 4-4. The Guardians, on the other hand, fell to a 2-8 card.

Lance Lerio anchored GCA’s strong start, as he accounted for half of the team’s 12 points in the first quarter. Ryan Daproza added 4 markers off fastbreak layups, while Railee Yumul and Justin Du netted a field goal apiece for the Eagles’ early double-digit lead, 14-2. The only response SDA had for GCA was a putback from Kaito Recucher.

The Guardians’ offense turned from bad to worse, as they were silenced by the Eagles’ defense in the second period, where the latter stretched their lead to 18. Juruel Magtalas drilled two 15-foot jumpers and Steven Adriatico nailed the other basket for GCA in the second canto.

With the game firmly in the Eagles’ control, coach Genesis Prieto had the luxury of resting most of his starters. Kaito Rechucher and Tommy Jin then took advantage of the miscues GCA reserves made, as the former scored 10 points and the latter logged 6 markers in the last two quarters. However, despite SDA’s better showing in the second half, the Eagles’ lead in the first was more than enough to propel them to victory.

Meanwhile, GCA also won in the girls division match, 32-22.

Katriel Saures had her way on the offensive end for the Lady Eagles, as she finished with a game-high 16 points. Azriel Fatialofa also contributed in the victory, as she towered above her defenders and registered 11 points off her baskets in the paint. Marielle Lopez led SDA with her 12 markers.

GCA notched its second win after five matches, while the Lady Guardians stumbled to a 1-5 card.

In other results, Saipan Community School built on its success early in the first quarter to defeat host Saipan International School in As Lito, 42-34.

Charlie McDonald paced the Tsunamis in the first quarter with his 8 points, while Miles Timmons took over in the third, dropping 8 markers. Daniel Nam had 12 points on a losing effort for the Geckos, while Danny Lee and Dylan Mister chipped in 9 and 6, respectively.

SCS now holds a 3-5 record, while SIS suffered its second straight loss and dropped to a 5-4 mark.

Over at the Koblerville Gymnasium, Mount Carmel School routed Northern Marianas International School, 38-14.

The Knights and Phoenix had a 12-12 stalemate when the first half wrapped up before the former turned it up on both ends of the floor in the second for the 24-point win.

O’hane Borja and Raphael Galang scored 15 and 9 points, respectively, for MCS, while Justin Mateo logged 6 markers for NMIS.

The Knights now have a 7-1 slate, while the latter backpedaled to a 2-7 record.

Boys Division
GCA 32—Lerio 8, Daproza 6, Justin Du 4, Magtalas 4, Adriatico 2, Alepuyo 2, Saures 2, Yumul 2.
SDA 20—Kaito Rechucher 12, Jin 6, Han 2.
Scoring by quarters: 14-2, 20-2, 24-6, 32-20
SCS 42—McDonald 18, Timmons 10, Aleksenko 8, Borja 2, Diaz 2, Kang 2
SIS 34—Nam 12, Lee 9, Mister 6, Xue 3, Gregoire 2, Sosa 2.
Scoring by quarters: 12-6, 20-13, 34-22, 42-34

MCS 38—Borja 15, Galang 9, Naraja 4, San Nicolas 4, Cepeda 2, Manning 2, Regalado 2, Sasamoto 2.
NMIS 14—Mateo 6, Pineda 4, Balgos 2, Valdoz 2.
Scoring by quarters: 10-4, 12-12, 22-14, 38-14

Girls Division
GCA 32—Saures 16, Fatialofa 11, Lamar 5, Camacho 2.
SDA 22—Lopez 12, Leonna Li 4, Buan 2, Park 2, Sablan 2.
Scoring by quarters: 8-4, 14-10, 25-14, 32-22