CNMI cagers bow to Tahiti in quarters

The CNMI Junior Nationals faltered in their bid to advance to the semifinals of the 7th FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament after losing to Tahiti, 74-97, yesterday at the University of Guam Fieldhouse.

A 33-15 second quarter helped Tahiti thwart the CNMI cagers and advance to the semifinals.

The CNMI was still leading, 18-17, at the start of the second period when a 23-8 run in a span of six minutes put Tahiti in the driver’s seat, 40-26.

The Commonwealth’s bets never recovered from thereon.

The CNMI’s next game will be against the loser of the Australia vs. Papua New Guinea quarterfinals match, which was played late last night. The CNMI and three other losing quarterfinalists will be battling for fifth to eighth place.

Guam and Australia, which topped Pool B and A, respectively, and New Caledonia are expected to join Tahiti in the semifinals.

For the third straight game, pool play No. 1 scorer Jericho Cruz top-scored for the CNMI, firing 23 points. He added seven rebounds, five steals, and three assists. Cruz shot 10-for-19 from the field for a 53-percent field goal shooting clip.

Four other CNMI cagers finished in double figures with Marvin Rabauliman chipping in 16, Bill Babauta making 12, Jayvan Tarkong adding 11, and Jomary Tumaquip contributing 10.

Tereora Dauphin paced Tahiti with 18 points, while Maui Tepa and Roura Laufattes had 14 apiece. Rehiti Sommers scored 12.

The CNMI kept pace with Tahiti in scoring in the second half, but the biggest lead that the French territory established in the second quarter was enough to give them a 23-point win. Tahiti outscored CNMI by only five in the third quarter, 23-18, and by a point in the fourth, 24-23.

Tahiti shot better from the field, going 38-for-84 for a 45-percent clip against the CNMI’s 33 percent via a 28-for-88 shooting.

Tahiti also had more triples with four against the CNMI’s two, and dominated the boards, 51-35, and assists department, 28-14.

With Tahiti hustling off the boards, it was able to get 33 second-chance points against the CNMI’s only 18.

Meanwhile, 16 teams competed in the 3-on-3 tournament Wednesday. The tournament aims to prepare Oceania players for the 2010 World Youth Olympics in Singapore.

Showtime, which was composed of Guam’s Jaymeelynn Cruz, Australia’s Kerryn Harrington, Fiji’s Anna Teine and Katherine Titoko, and PNG’s Poenui Tehaamoana won the women’s division title.

The Go Getters topped the men’s division, leaning on the CNMI’s Jose Castro, New Caledonia’s Biran Bourgade, Fiji’s Martin Liebregts, Guam’s Norvin Garduque, and Australia’s Anthony Drmic.

A cultural show in the evening capped the one-day festivities.

Tahiti 97 – Dauphin 18, Tepa 14, Laufattes 14, Sommers 12, Taputu 9, Teriierooiterai 8, Mui 8, Rossi 7, Dury 7.

CNMI 74 – Cruz 23, Rabauliman 16, Babauta 12, Tarkong 11, Tumaquip 10, Borja 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-18, 50-33, 73-51, 97-74.