Caravan’s boosts playoff bid

Caravan’s Ken Viray, left, gets the offensive rebound during an earlier game against AK Toyota in the 2019 Atkins Kroll Marianas International Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. Viray scored 36 points in their 87-74 victory over The Game last Thursday. (Kimberly A. Bautista)

Caravan’s moved closer to the semifinals of the 2019 Atkins Kroll Marianas International Basketball League after beating The Game, 87-74, in the curtain-raiser last Thursday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Caravan’s improved to a 5-3 records to keep the No. 3 spot in the team standings behind the undefeated Saipan Vegas (8-0) and IT&E (7-1). Only the Top 4 teams will advance to the semis after the round-robin regular season and Caravan’s has on more game (versus Mystique BBQ) left in the elimination.

A victory in its final game will official bring Caravan’s to the playoff round, leaving MS Villagomez (4-2) and Bridge Capital (4-3) the likely teams to battle for the fourth and last semis seat. The Game is out of contention after falling to a 2-5 record and dropping its fifth consecutive match.

Ken Viray powered Caravan’s to the 11-point win over The Game after scoring 36 points. He also drew enough help from Prince Factor, who made up from his absence in their 71-72 sorry loss to MS Villagomez last week, by contributing 20 points in their victory over The Game.

Viray caught fire early after drilling 15 points in the first quarter to hand Caravan’s a 21-12 lead. He was then held to two field goals in the second period, but Factor, Alex Standish, Ponce Rasa, and Syd Quan were there to keep Caravan’s on top, 38-34.

The Game moved within four at the break after knocking in three triples against none from Caravan’s and spreading the wealth, as eight players made it to the board for the former.

However, after making some headway in the second period, The Game’s offense took a hit in the third, as only June Fidelino and Mark Mintac scored for the squad.

In contrast, five players made field goals for Caravan’s with Viray regaining his form and recording 12 points. Rasa, Standish, and Quan combined for 10 more points for Caravan’s while Factor buried a triple, as they brought their lead back to twin digits, 61-49, going into the final canto.

After being held to 5 points in the first three periods, Factor save the best for last, as he delivered 15 in the fourth quarter—9 of them came from the 3-point area—to boost Caravan’s semis chances.

Caravan’s 87—Viray 36, Factor 20, Standish 12, Rasa 8, Quad 7, Maratita 4.
The Game 74—Fidelino 28, Mintac 16, Sablan 7, Santos 6, Parulan 6, Javier 4, Sanguyo 3, Bernardo 2, Del Rosario 2.
Scoring by quarters: 21-12, 38-34, 63-49 87-74.