Sweet redemption for Knights

Defending champion Mt. Carmel School Knights are now in first place in the ongoing 2006 MISA High School Basketball League after edging the Marianas High School Dolphins, 78-70, yesterday at the MHS Gymnasium.

Four Mt. Carmel cagers finished in doubles figures to lead the Knights to their fourth win in five games, while the loss dropped Marianas High to second place with a 3-2 record.

Both teams matched each other well in the opening 10 minutes with each putting 16 points on the scoreboard. Guard Joemar Tumaquip and center Jayven Tarkong combined for 12 points for the Dolphins, while Dan Barcinas and Jeff Deleon Guerrero tag-teamed for 11 points to spearhead the Knights’ attack.

Barcinas and company were able to grab the upper hand in the second period as the all-around cager added another seven points to his name, while Steve Kim and Wylie Paez each had six points to help the Knights outscore their opponents, 21-17, for a 37-33 lead at the break.

The Knights received strong resistance at the start of the second half as Tumaquip and Anirut Tebuteb led a strong Dolphins charge. Marianas High, however, was not able to keep pace with the run-and-gun Knights, as Barcinas and younger brother Aitau heated up the net to lead another strong production to push the private school to a nine-point edge heading into the payoff period, 59-50.

With majority of the Knights’ starting five on the bench, the Dolphins came out firing and opened the fourth quarter with a 6-2 run. The Knights’ reserves, however, were able to step up their game and keep their edge.

The Dolphins were able to come within six points, 58-64 midway through the period, but a 6-0 run—highlighted with consecutive fastbreak layups by Matt Kintol and Deleon Guerrero—enabled the Knights to take a 12-point advantage with under five minutes remaining.

Marianas High’s Nate Mateo was able to stop the run with a bomb from long range, 61-70, but the Knights were able to recover and restored their 12-point edge, 74-62. A fastbreak layup by Paez and a shot clock buzzer-beater by Aitau Barcinas were all the Knights had left, but it was more than enough to hold on as the Dolphins were not able to close in before the sound of the final buzzer.

Dan Barcinas and Deleon Guerrero led the Knights with 18 and 15 points, while Paez and Aitau Barcinas added 12 and 11 points.

Tumaquip scored 17 points before fouling out to lead the Dolphins, while Tarkong added 14 points.

MCS 78 – D. Barcinas 18, Deleon Guerrero 15, Paez 12, A. Barcinas 11, Ogumoro 7, Kim 6, Tenorio 4, Naraja 3, Kintol 2.
MHS 70 – Tumaquip 17, Tarkong 14, N. Mateo 9, Tebuteb 9, Pangelinan 7, Philip 5, Magday 4, Borja 2, D. Mateo 2, Brant 1.
Scoring by quarters: 16-16, 37-33, 59-50, 78-70.
Referees: Eric Artillaga and Joe Mettao.