3-peat for Lady Knights

Mt. Carmel School reasserted its might against Saipan International School, cruising to a 45-21 win in their title game in the girls high school division of the 2014-2015 Coalition of Private School Sports Association Basketball League yesterday at SIS court in As Lito.

Mt. Carmel School players and coach Francis San Nicolas, standing right, pose for a group photo after beating Saipan International School, 45-21, in their title game in the COPSSA caging yesterday at the SIS court in As Lito. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The finals win was the Lady Knights’ third straight and second consecutive against the Lady Geckos. Mt. Carmel also crushed SIS in last year’s finale, 57-7, to defend the championship it won against Grace Christian Academy in the 2013 season, 48-27.

As expected, 3-point shooter Jan Travilla led the Lady Knights’ successful 3-peat bid, scoring 11 points in the one-game finals. She and fellow sophomore Tawnie Manibusan gave Mt. Carmel a good start, as they combined for 12 points and powered the Lady Knights to a promising 22-5 lead at the end of the first period. The Lady Geckos faced an early double-digit deficit after making only two field goals in the opening eight minutes of play off Kye Tamm’s triple and Jenny Kim’s point-blanked shot.

In the second quarter, SIS was again held to two baskets, but fortunately the Lady Knights slowed down on offense after also drilling two field goals, leaving the former with a manageable 9-26 halftime deficit.

However, the Lady Geckos failed to overhaul Mt. Carmel’s lead in the second half as the hosts misfired in the fourth, muffing all their attempts in the payoff canto. Before its fourth-quarter silence, SIS outgunned the Lady Knights in the third frame, 12-8.

With SIS firing blanks, only four of its players made it to the board with Adele Hudkins leading the way with her 11 markers. Tamm finished with 6, while Jenny Kim and Natalie Hardt chipped in 2 apiece. Seven other Mt. Carmel players hit the board with Manibusan the second one to nail double figures with her 10.

Manibusan and majority of the members of the champion team will be back for next season, making coach Francis San Nicolas excited as they try to extend their reign in the league.

“We still have a strong team for next season as only one player (Masami Sato) is leaving us. This team has a lot of potential and we will work hard during the offseason to get ready for the next competition,” said San Nicolas, who is also expected to field the same squad in the more competitive MISO caging.

Meanwhile, the Lady Knights’ title win over SIS gave Mt. Carmel a sweep in the high school caging. Last week, the Knights dethroned Eucon International School following a 55-46 victory in their championship duel.

“This has been a good year for Mount Carmel School sports with our co-ed junior high volleyball team winning the 2014-2015 COPSSA championship, our Lady Knights winning the 2014-2015 COPSSA volleyball championship, and now our boys and girls varsity basketball teams winning the 2014-2015 COPSSA basketball championship as well. Plus, our boys did very well in the MISO league this year,” MCS president Galvin Deleon Guerrero said.

“I am very happy and proud of all our Knight athletes. This is just the beginning as this is a building year for MCS. We can expect even better things next year,” he added.

MCS 45 – Travilla 11, Manibusan 10, Flores 6, Sato 4, Taimanao 4, Villagomez 4, Hahn 4, Reyes 2.

SIS 21 – Hudkins 11, Tamm 6, J. Kim 2, Hardt 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-5, 26-9, 34-21, 45-21.