Dolphins, Ayuyus’ lead boys varsity caging

Saipan Southern High School’s John Kae Raquepo is fouled but made the shot against Marianas High School’s Charlz Sanchez in their game of the 2022-2023 IT&E Interscholastic Boys High School Basketball League last Wednesday at the MHS Gymnasium. (LEIGH GASES)

The Marianas High School Dolphins and Kagman High School Ayuyus boys basketball varsity teams lead the pack in the 2022-2023 IT&E Interscholastic Boys High School Basketball League.

The Dolphins coasted to an undefeated 5-game winning streak after they edged Saipan Southern High School, 46-40 last Wednesday; while the Ayuyus defeated Mount Carmel School, 44-30 for also their fifth win last Friday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Dolphins’ Airson Atan engaged in a scoring duel with the Mantas’ Rasg Asuo all game long, but the former pulled ahead into the lead in the end.

It was anyone’s game in the first half as the Dolphins and Mantas took turns at the net as multiple 3-pointers exploded off of SSHS’ Elijah Garcia’s deeps shots—but it was MHS’ Atan who banked a shot from 3-point territory and followed it up with a field goal that secured the 19-18 lead heading into the second half.

Atan continued to steamroll his way through homecourt as in the end, he scored 20 points—the last 4 of which came from free throws.

Meanwhile, the Mantas had the trinity of only Asuo, Garcia, and John Kae Raquepo taking turns at the basket—with Asuo ending the game with 18 markers, Garcia with 15, and Raquepo with 7.

The Dolphins’ lineup of Aiden Suba assisted Atan with 12 points, while Khristian David contributed 10 of his own.

On Friday night, the Ayuyus were still a force to be reckoned with as they continued to destroy all enemies in their path—with the Knights as their latest victim.

The Ayuyus’ one-man army, Frankie Satur, continued his dominance on both defense and the offense as he blazed his way through the court with 21 markers.

The Knights did not stand a chance in the first half with the bombardment of layup after layup and jump shots from the Ayuyus, and were reduced to an 18 point deficit.

In the second half, the Knights’ Lance Lerio and Derek Sasamoto tried to tag-team and make a push for a better game with 9 points each, but it was the support of Satur that brought them down.

The Ayuyus’ Anthony Dikito scored 11 points, while Austin Diaz had five of his own, and Lucio Aldan scored a 3-pointer.

In the other varsity bout on Wednesday night, Saipan International School brought down Grace Christian Academy, 72-69. In the junior varsity games, MHS JV-2 lost to KHS, 26-40; while MHS JV won against SSHS, 39-25.

On Friday night’s other varsity game, SSHS defeated SIS, 75-44. In the junior varsity games, SSHS beat MHS JV-2, 28-27; and MHS JV won against MCS, 39-21.

In the varsity standings, KHS and MHS lead with their 4 wins; SSHS is at 4-1; MCS is at 3-2; Agape Christian School is 2-3; SIS is 1-4; and Grace Christian Academy is 0-6. 

In the junior varsity standings, MHS JV is still undefeated at 5-0, KHS is 3-2; MHS JV-2 is 3-3; SSHS is at 2-3; MCS JV have yet to win with six losses; Rota is at 1-1; and Tinian is at 2 losses.

MHS 46 – Atan 20, Suba 12, David 10, Sanchez 2, Mister 2.
SSHS 40 – Asuo 18, Garcia 15, Raquepo 7.
Scoring by halves: 19-18; 46-40.

KHS 44 – Satur 21, Dikito 11, Diaz 5, Aldan 3, Rabauliman 2, Hocog 2. 
MCS 29 – Sasamoto 9, Lerio 9, Borja 7, Mercado 2, Han 2.
Scoring by halves: 26-8; 44-29.