5 O’clock In The Morning wins U15 Christmas tourney

 U15 division’s 5 O’clock In The Morning defeated the Knights, 21-11, in the Garapan Community Development Center’s 2012 Christmas 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament held over the weekend at the Garapan Basketball Court.

The competition also featured a U10 and U12 round-robin.

5 O’clock is made up of Jeron Ano, Emerson Feria, Irvyn Malonzo, and Toshi Pangelinan.

Leading up to the finals, the Knights snuck past team Underdogs, 15-14, in the curtain raiser, as 5 O’clock trampled Bastosss, 23-7.

The Knights then defeated Tabasco, 19-12, and dropped 5 O’clock, 13-11, to advance to the finals unscathed.

Underdogs made it past Bastosss, 11-5, in their knockout match and went on to take out Tabasco, 20-9, before being eliminated by the eventual champs, 17-19.

In the U15 finals, 5 O’clock managed a slim, 11-8, lead in the first half thanks to a late 3-pointer by Malonzo.

Then Malonzo and Feria delivered four points apiece in the clutch to come away with the win.

Meanwhile, U10’s Rollers, made up of Angelo Factor, John Paul Cruz, and John Tam, pulled off a 10-6 come back over Ol’Aces in their tiebreaker finals match.

After a 2-2 deadlock in the first half, the Rollers’ Factor came away with four points at crunch time to go with a bucket in support by Cruz.

Defense proved to be the key to the Rollers’ success as Ol’Aces edged out Rollers, 15-12, in the first meeting, but fell to its rivals, 8-6, in the second tiff.

In addition, U12’s Hoops, comprised of Angelo Factor, Dicky Feria, C.J. Morales, and Kyle Rios, defeated runner-up Big-3, 9-6, in their finals duel.

Big-3 won the first meeting, 20-16, and advanced to the finals in first place after taking down team Whatever, 12-6, in their second game.

Hoops went on to oust Whatever, 13-8, before getting its revenge on the favored trio.

Hoops worked to an early 9-4 lead in the first half with Morales starting the engine with a five-point spark. Then Hoops relied on its defense and held Big-3 to a mere two points in the second half.

Two teams competed in the U10 division, three in U12, and five in the U15 grouping.

The winners will all be presented with medals during GCDC’s Family-Fun-A-Thon, slated for Jan. 28, 2012 at the Garapan Basketball Court.

Family Fun-A-Thon will also feature a 3-on-3 tournament between U12, U14 and U16 players with the parents being thrown into the mix.

There are also various side games planned for the kids such as a spoon toss race, minefield, a paint-balloon war, sneaker scramble, grab bag race, a game of “mom-or-dad calling” and even some volleyball.

“The Family Fun-A-Thon is open to everyone, but one big purpose for the event is because we at the GCDC want people, especially in the Garapan precinct, to know that we are here and our services are readily available for them,” said GCDC and Rollers Basketball Club frontman Joe Diaz.

Organizers decided on the theme for the Fun-A-Thon to be losing some weight people may have put on during the holiday season.

The GCDC and RBC are currently collaborating with longtime sponsors DYS and Vice Speaker Felicidad Ogumorro (Cov-Saipan) to help enable most of its events, but are always open to any new forms of sponsorship assistance.

Any small businesses that wish to donate small gifts that the group can use as prizes for participants in their sports activities would be a greatly appreciated. Based on past experience the kids seem to enjoy simple prizes such as food, water park, and movie coupons.

Visit RBC’s Facebook page or call the GDCD at 233-8978 for more information.