Camry nips S. Antonio in down-the-wire thriller

Toyota Camry-Ol’Aces pulled the right strings and moved into the semifinals of the ongoing 2005 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League after eliminating San Antonio, 90-87, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium in a down-the-wire thriller that needed overtime to be decided.

Both teams gave their all, with all players hustling for every loose ball, tracking down any player that breaks open for a possible routine shot, and making critical baskets when needed.

In the end, though, it was a pull-up jumper by Aitau Barcinas, and free throws by Kovin Ogumoro that enabled Toyota to take the win. San Antonio almost forced a second overtime when Preston Basa launched a half-court shot that almost made it way in through the hoop.

The two teams were engaged in a tight battle from the start, with the first half closing in favor of Toyota, 39-34.

It was the second half and overtime, though, that many in attendance will remember as the two teams exchanged baskets and neither team managed to take a comfortable lead.

Toyota had several chances to close the game in regulation, and with San Antonio leading scorer Josh Sablan out of the game after he was whistled for his fifth foul, it seemed like Camry was going to be able to do so.

San Antonio, however, refused to give up and got huge baskets from rising star Bill Babauta and Frank Blas to keep close and eventually pull even. Blas hit seven of his points in the closing minutes of the half and Babauta took over and sank three free throws before driving the lane, drawing a foul, and making the basket to pull them within a point, 78-79. Babauta nailed his free throw and neither team did any more damage as the game went into overtime.

Toyota held a four-point lead early in OT, but San Antonio managed to respond and close the gap on baskets by Basa, Ernest Duenas, and Mart Pangelinan. Unfortunately, Toyota also responded in kind as Ogumoro, Steve Kim, and Barcinas came through to lift their team.

Kim led Toyota with a game-high 29 points, while Jeff Deleon Guerrero and Jayvon Tarkong added 19 and 12 points. Ogumoro finished with 10 points.

Babauta paced San Antonio with 19 points, while Basa and Blas contributed 16 and 14 points. Sablan had 13 points.

Toyota Camry 90 – Kim 29, Deleon Guerrero 19, Tarkong 12, Ogumoro 10, Itibus 8, Barcinas 8, Pagarao 2, Babauta 2.
San Antonio 87 – Babauta 19, Basa 16, Blas 14, J. Sablan 13, Pangelinan 7, R. Palacios 6, Alvarez 6, B. Sablan 5, Duenas 2.
Scoring by halves: 39-34, 79-79, 90-87 (OT).
Referees: Arnold Mesa and Noel Delos Santos.