Final Four set in Tinian caging

Referee Dawn Sarmiento explains the FIBA rules to Devil Dog Warriors and Rampage players before their game in the Island-wide Men’s Bud Light Basketball League last Monday at the Tinian Multi-Purpose Gymnasium. (Contributed Photo)

Team Kio will face Team CNMI and Devil Dog Warriors will square off against Rampage in the single elimination playoffs of the Island-wide Men’s Bud Light Basketball League this Friday, Oct. 29, at the Tinian Multi-Purpose Gymnasium.

The Final Four was set after SMA Flyers played spoiler and denied RNV a playoff spot with a 48-44 win in the second game last Monday, while Devil Dog Warriors routed Rampage in a no-bearing first game, 81-56.

RNV finished tied with Team CNMI with a 5-9 record, but was left outside of the postseason picture looking in as Team CNMI edged them via quotient. Head-to-head, Team CNMI beat RNV, 76-53, in the first round last Sept. 17. RNV exacted its vengeance last Oct. 20 with a 76-75 nipping of Team CNMI in the second round. The results of both matches gave Team CNMI a plus 12 quotient.

Despite playing with just six players SMA actually spotted RNV, 16-0, in the first quarter before the latter rallied to make a game of it. RNV, playing with a full complement of players, still had a chance to tie the game with 10 seconds left in the clock. However, their ploy to make a 3-pointer plus fish a foul failed and SMA Flyers finished its season on a winning note.

Jason and Janlery Doria led the charge for SMA with 12 and 10 points, respectively. RNV bowed out of playoff contention led by the 12 points of Jhello Bungabong.

Earlier, Devil Dog Warriors and Rampage played like there was no tomorrow in their Final Four preview. Regardless who won both teams will still face each other in the Final Four as they are firmly entrenched in the second and third spots.

The physicality of play led to Rampage’s Tom Ericson being taken to the hospital after he collided with a Devil Dog Warriors player following a rebound play.

Rampage’s Wesley Walker, Leo Pascua, Rudy Borja, and Jayron Epity also were misfiring all night and as Devil Dog Warriors blew the game wide open in the second half. Jake Montgomery led three Devil Dog Warriors that wound up with 20 or more points with 29. Damon Kada added 24, while Zjonti Kubinski chipped in 22 for the 11-3 team.

Rampage, which finished the eliminations with a 10-4 card, was paced by the 26 points of Walker with Epity adding 16 markers.

The first game of the playoffs this Friday will have Team Kio and Team CNMI contesting the first finals slot beginning at 6pm. The second game will then have Rampage taking on Devil Dog Warriors starting at 8pm.

First Game
Devil Dog Warriors 81 – Montgomery 29, Kada 24, Kubinski 22, Lapan 4, Ogaldez 2.

Rampage 56 – Walker 26, J. Epity 16, Cepeda 8, Pascua 3, Untalan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-22, 30-32, 62-42, 81-56.

Second Game
SMA Flyers 48 – Ja. Doria 12, Jan. Doria 10, Cajilla 9, Fletcher 6, Opanda 6, Villagracia 5.

RNV 44 – Bungabong 12, Udaundo 9, Borca 8, Rizardo 7, Laoyon 4, Bacuyag 2, Tortor 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-0, 27-8, 33-28, 48-44.