Garapan noses out San Antonio in girls caging

Garapan’s Quina Flores drives against a phalanx of San Antonio defenders during the 2022 Marianas Village Pride Basketball League last Saturday at the Gillette Multi-Purpose Gymnasium in Gualo Rai. (LEIGH GASES)

Garapan fended off a late game challenge by San Antonio to improve to 3-1 in the women’s division of the 2022 Marianas Village Pride Basketball League last Saturday at the Gillette Multi-Purpose Gymnasium in Gualo Rai.

With Garapan leading by 7 points, 43-36, with 1:40 left in the game, San Antonio uncorked a 9-4 run to narrow the gap to just a mere 2 points. 

Mia Abuan started the rally when her layup made it into a 6-point game a little over a minute to go and a 3-pointer by Kaitlyn Chavez with 47 ticks left on the clock made it just a 3-point game, 44-41.

Luckily for Garapan, A.J. Garon escaped for a layup not 5 seconds after and Mikayla Lopez made 1-2 from the stripe. Abuan made another shot to make it 47-45 with less than 20 seconds to go in the ballgame. 

Marlene Lumabi then came down the floor and scored easily before Garapan fouled Chavez who made 2-2 from the free throw line with only 9 seconds remaining.

However, rather than foul to stop the ballgame, San Antonio inexplicably let Lopez dribble the remaining time away as Garapan escaped with the 49-47 victory.

Lumabi paced Garapan in the close win with 17 points, while Lopez added 13 markers. Chavez topped the now 0-3 San Antonio team with 12 points, while Mya Pangelinan chipped in 10.

Earlier in the day, Kagman improved to 4-0 in the boys 13 after thumping a winless Garapan crew, 46-29.

Leon Galarse spearheaded Kagman in the romp of Garapan with 18 points, while Liam Wilson shone in the loss with a game-high 23.

In the boys 18, Tanapag won the battle of two undefeated teams following a 50-39 victory over Koblerville. 

Tanapag posted its fourth win thanks to the 17 points of Gino Rasg and the 15 points of Frankie Satur. The now 3-1 Koblerville was led by the 17 markers of Airson Atan.

On Sunday, Gualo Rai kept pace with Tanapag in the boys 18 after improving to 3-0 with its 101-17 demolition of San Vicente.

Craig Padayao continued his high-flying act with 31 points and he was ably assisted by the 24 points of Leo Naraja. Jerald Aquino unloaded 14 markers in the third straight loss for San Vicente.

In the women’s division, Kagman kept San Jose winless after four games following a 40-18 victory.

Kagman now is at 2-1 and was led by the 16 markers of Kaia Travilla. May Kay Alferos fired 12 markers for San Jose.

Tanapag, meanwhile, notched its third win in four games in the boys 13 following a 48-26 victory over Finasisu, which lost its second game in three starts.

Dale Garcia fired 18 points in the win, while Leon Duenas had 10 points in the loss.

Garapan 49 – Lumabi 17, Mi, Lopez 13, Kautz 10, Flores 4, Garon 2.
San Antonio 47 – Chavez 12, Pangelinan 10, Abuan 6, Aa. Fatialofa 5, Navarro 4, Enriquez 3, Ai. Fatialofa 2, Az. Fatialofa 2.
Scoring by halves: 34-30, 49-47.