Junior Nationals lose shootout with New Caledonia

Guns were blazing in the CNMI-New Caledonia game in the Men’s Pool B of the 7th FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament yesterday at the University of Guam Fieldhouse with the French colony prevailing in the shootout, 131-92.

The CNMI Junior Nationals traded baskets with New Caledonia in the first quarter with Jericho Cruz mostly on the firing end.

At the end of the first period, the CNMI cagers were still in contention, trailing by only three, 27-30.

But the next three quarters showed New Caledonia having more firepower in its arsenal, outgunning CNMI. The winning team outscored the Commonwealth in the second by 12 points, 26-14, to break the game wide open and take a 56-41 halftime lead.

In the third period, New Caledonia was still busy burning the hoops, firing 33 points against CNMI’s 22 markers.

New Caledonia saved the best for last, exploding for 42 points in the fourth period. The CNMI had their most productive output in the final quarter, making 29 points, but it was not enough to save the Junior Nationals from dropping to a 1-2 record.

The Rufino Aguon-mentored squad’s lone win in the pool play was against Papua New Guinea Monday night, 93-84.

The Junior Nationals finished third in Pool B and will play the No. 2 squad in Pool A in the quarterfinals. Tournament favorite Australia led Pool A with a 3-0 record, while Tahiti and Fiji are battling for the second spot.

Cruz finished with 30 points for the Junior Nationals on an 11-for-26 field goal shooting. He went 2-for-7 from downtown and had nine rebounds.

Three other CNMI players scored in double figures with Marvin Rabauliman and Jayvan Tarkong chipping in 16 apiece. Guam-based Bill Babauta contributed 10 markers.

Francis Dabin led New Caledonia’s attack, drilling 30 markers. Two New Caledonia players had a double-double with Alexander Ha Ho recording 18 points and 10 rebounds and Beniela Adjougniope adding 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Thibault Cure and Paul-Emile Boawe had 16 apiece, while Brien-Jefrey Dassuie contributed 12 to complete New Caledonia’s potent offensive firepower.

New Caledonia shot 10-for-22 from the 3-point area, while CNMI made only two of its 11 triple attempts.

New Caledonia also performed well from the 15-foot line, going 25-for-38 for a 65.8-percent clip. The CNMI was 18-for-34 from the free throw line, but held its ground against New Caledonia rebounders, getting 45 rebounds. The Junior Nationals defeated New Caledonia in the offensive rebound department, 27-17, before the latter redeemed themselves in the defensive end, 31-18.

The tournament will take a break today to give way to a 3-on-3 event.

New Caledonia 131 – Dabin 30, Ho 18, Adjougniope 17, Cure 16, Boawe 16, Bassuie 12, Verons 9, Sillant 6, Bourgade 4, Vakalepu 3.

CNMI 92 – Cruz 30, Rabauliman 16, Tarkong 16, Babauta 10, Tumaquip 7, Moses 4, Borja 4, White 3, Camacho 2.

Scoring by quarters: 30-27, 56-41 89-63, 101-92.