Junior Nationals eclipse Suns in Rotary caging

The CNMI Junior Nationals foiled the Suns’ bid to start a winning streak, as the former cruised to a 68-49 victory in their game in the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League Friday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Suns entered the win column Monday night when they defeated the Chalan Kanoa Saints 43-38, but were denied back-to-back wins by the Junior Nationals.

In contrast, the Junior Nationals continued their run, claiming their fourth straight win in five games. The Junior Nationals’ lone loss was at the hands of the Southern Sonics during the opening of the 18-and-under tournament.

The Junior Nationals had a hard time pulling away against the Suns in the first half, which ended with the former leading by only four, 32-28.

The Suns managed to tie the game at 38-all after Josh Kiyoshi canned a triple and Jimmy Brel split his charities, with 13:34 left in the second half.

But that was the closest that the Suns could get, as the Junior Nationals returned to business and had a 30-11 windup.

Marvin Rabauliman led the Junior Nationals’ breakaway in the second half, making 13 of his 21 points in that period.

Jose Castro, one of the new additions to the Junior Nationals’ roster this season, scored in double figures for the first time, drilling 14 markers. Jericho Cruz and Joseph White chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Brel led the Suns’ losing cause, hitting 18 points, while Bo Yamada added 13.

The Junior Nationals will not be playing the Rotary caging next week, as they head to Guam for the 7th FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament.

The Oceania caging will run from Sept. 27 to October 5 at the University of Guam Fieldhouse in Mangilao.

The CNMI cagers will show their wares against players from the host, Palau, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and powerhouse Australia.

The Suns will also have a five-day break, as their next match will be on Thursday against the Rollers II. The Suns hold a 1-4 record and are slightly picked against the Rollers II, who are winless in six games.

CNMI Junior Nationals 68—Rabauliman 21, Castro 14, Cruz 12, White 11, Moses 8.

Suns 49—Brel 18, Yamada 13, Kiyoshi 4, Maratita 5, Salas 2.

Scoring by halves: 32-28, 68-49.

Referees: Gabriel White and Arnold Mesa