Only 1 undefeated team left in boys 18

Gualo Rai’s Elijah Garcia goes up against a phalanx of Tanapag defenders in their boys 18 division match in the 2022 Marianas Village Pride Basketball League last Saturday at the Gillette Multi-Purpose Gymnasium. (MARK RABAGO)

Leo Naraja completed a 3-point play in the dying seconds to help Gualo Rai escape fellow undefeated team Tanapag, 60-58, in the boys 18 of the 2022 Marianas Village Pride Basketball League last Saturday at the Gillette Multi-Purpose Gymnasium in Gualo Rai.

Tanapag stormed back from as much as a 12-point deficit in the second half and took a 57-52 lead on a triple and a kamikaze layup by Johnkae Raquepo time down to 1:29 in the match.

Naraja made a clutch triple on the next play and after Tanapag’s Frankie Satur bungled a reverse layup, Craig Padayao was fouled with 38.2 second left and made 1-2 from the stripe to trim Tanapag’s lead to 57-56.

Tanapag would again fumble the ball in their next possession and Naraja was clobbered making a successful drive to the basket for a potential and-1 play. 

The Gualo Rai sharpshooter and CNMI national player would sink the bonus charity to give his team a 59-57 lead with 14.5 second left.

Tanapag had many chances to equalize with the last one coming when Satur was fouled with 2.2 seconds remaining. The 6’3” center missed his first free throw before swishing the second to cut Gualo Rai’s lead to 59-58.

Lucio Aldan was fouled by Tanapag after the inbound and the point guard made 1-2 free throws before time eventually ran out for Tanapag to even attempt a hail mary. 

Gualo Rai was comfortably ahead at the start of the second half until a 6-0 run by Tanapag cut the deficit to 47-40 with 7:30 to go in the ballgame.

Another 6-0 run capped by a putback from Norbet Hocog made it 47-46 with a little over 5 minutes left in the match. Gualo Rai continued to pace Tanapag until that late burst by Raquepo eventually gave his team the lead. 

But Naraja and company proved resilient and made a comeback of their own to post their fourth win in as many games, while dealing Tanapag its lone loss against three wins.

Aldan led Gualo Rai with 13 points, while Naraja chipped in 11 of his own. Gino Rasg paced Tanapag in the loss with 18 with Raquepo adding 11 in support.

Earlier in the boys 13, Kagman kept its unblemished record with a 33-21 win over Tanapag. Igane Camacho led Kagman to its fourth win in as many games with 12 points, while the 5 markers of Dane Tibayan topped Tanapag, which absorbed its second loss in six games.

In the women’s division, Kaitlyn Chavez sizzled for 31 points to finally give San Antonio its first win with a 61-53 victory over San Jose. Both teams entered their matchup winless, but San Antonio now carries a 1-3 card with San Jose, which was led by the 27 points of Friendly Pena, remaining in the cellar at 0-5.

On Sunday, Oleai leveled its record to 3-3 while keeping Garapan winless after six games, 61-26, in the boys 13. Theo Joab fired 24 in the win, while the 9 points of Leon Galarse spearheaded Garapan.

San Vicente improved to 4-1 in the women’s division after nipping Kagman, 39-34. Destiny Pangelinan again shot the lights out for San Vicente with 16 points, while Kaia Travilla poured in 11 in the loss for the now 3-2 Kagman.

In the boys 18, Airson Atan submitted a 30-piece to lead Koblerville to a 68-59 triumph over San Antonio. It was the third win in four games for Atan and company, while San Antonio, which was led by the 11 of Christian Lucero, dropped to 1-2.

Gualo Rai 60 – Aldan 13, Naraja 11, Sasamoto 8, Padayao 7, Garcia 6, Camacho 6, Seth 4, Cepeda 2, Peters 2, Hernandez 1.
Tanapag 58 – Rasg 18, Raquepo 11, Satur 8, Toves 8, Hocog 4, Guilas 4, Asauo 3, Abendan 2.
Scoring by halves: 25-18, 60-58.