Action intensifies in NYBA Invitational

The 2nd Annual DFS-Northern Youth Basketball Association Invitational continues to feature intense action on the hardcourt.

Teams from Guam arrived yesterday, and were able to have successful starts to the tournament after the Agat Lakers defeated Tinian and the Barrigada Crusaders edged the Garapan Rollers in the Division II girls action.

The Crusaders were able to hand the G-Rollers their first loss of the tournament after the Garapan-based squad won its first two games of the tournament.

The two teams were evenly matched, but in the end, it was Barrigada that had enough juice to win, 59-54.

It was a tightly fought bout from the start, with both teams finishing the first half with the score knotted at 20-20, with Tiana Piper leading Barrigada with six points, and Chelsea Ruluked scoring nine points for the G-crew.

Ruluked continued to work her magic on the floor for the G-Rollers. The member of the CNMI National Team that struck gold in the Micronesian Games several months ago went on to sizzle for another 16 points.

Barrigada, however, was able to hold its ground, and with Joneal Cruz fueling their charge with 14 points, the team was able to score five points more than the opposition to win.

Cruz led Barrigada with 19 points, while Victoria Mendiola and Piper finished with 12 and 10 points in solid support.

Ruluked scored a game-high 25 points to lead the G-Rollers, while Nikki Lebria added 11 points.

Meanwhile, the Lakers were able to stop Tinian, 36-22.

The Lakers controlled the game from the start and was able to grab an eight-point advantage, 18-10, at the break, with Aubrey Salas pacing the team with seven markers.

The second half saw the two teams put up identical efforts to ones they showed in the opening half. The Lakers were again able to outscore their opponents, 18-12, to close with the 14-point victory margin.

Salas led the Lakers with 11 points, while Genevie Aquiningoc spearheaded Tinian’s run with eight points.

Meanwhile, Rota was able to edge the Matansa Sparks, the Sonics lambasted the G-Stars, and the Navy Hill Ballers broke into the win column with a victory over Tinian in the boys’ 19-and-under division Tuesday night.

The Sparks gave the Rota cagers a good run for their money, but the southern neighbors were able to hold on and pick up a 54-50 victory.

Domingo Hocog led Rota with a game-high 21 points and eight steals, while Gerald Manglona and Alvin King pumped in 13 and 11 points.

Manny Matagolai led the Sparks with 15 points.

For their part, the Sonics dominated from start to finish and easily blew away the G-Sparks, 123-53.

Rowell Aranda and Jonathan Lim had 26 and 20 points, Kevin Cequena scored 16 points, Josh Sablan shot 100 percent from the field for 15 points, and Jason Bahillo added 12 points to lead the Sonics, who sit with a perfect 3-0 record.

Kris Aquino led the G-Sparks with a double-double as he scored a game-high 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Ricardo Basila added 10 points.

The Navy Hill Ballers improved to 1-2 with a 72-32 victory over Tinian.

Anirut Tebuteb went berserk from the field to lead the Ballers, finishing with 34 points on 15-for-25 shooting, while Steve Kim added 10 points in support.

Tyrone Aquiningoc led Tinian with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

More games were held yesterday, however, results were not available as of press time.

No games will be held today in observance of Thanksgiving Day. Action resumes tomorrow with Hopwood Junior High School and the Crusaders of the girls’ 15-and-under division battling at 9am at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. The G-Rollers and Agat Lakers face off in the 12-and-under division at the same time at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Other games include the Lakers and G-Rollers battling in the Division III girls at the Ada Gym at 10:30am, followed by the Ballers and Barrigada facing off in the Division III boys category at noon.

MHS will also play host to the Sonics and Lakers of the boys’ 15-and-under division at 10:30am. Playoffs will also kick off, with the championship games set for Saturday.