G-Stars complete semis cast

The G-Stars secured the last semis berth in the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League after surviving the Kontenders, 63-62, Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Living up to their name which means competitors, the Kontenders were in contention for the fourth and last semis ticket until the last shot of the game.

The Kontenders had possession in the last three seconds of the match with the G-Stars ahead by a hair, 63-62. After picking up a loose ball, Jester Kaipat threw a pass to a sprinting Eugene Dillay, who went for a fastbreak layup against two G-Stars defenders, and missed, when his shot rolled past the rim as time expired.

The G-Stars, who led by as much as 12 points midway in the second half, saw their semis bid in danger when Dillay and Kaipat led the Kontenders’ recovery in the last two minutes of the game.

Kaipat’s long jumper at the top of the key allowed the Kontenders to grab the lead for the first time since the first half, 60-58, with less than a minute left in the game.

Nate Mateo drew a foul in the ensuing play and had a chance to tie the game but split his charities, allowing the Kontenders to keep the lead, 60-59, with 43 seconds left on the clock.

Dillay widened the lead to three, 62-59, when he made an undergoal stab, with 31 seconds remaining in the second half.

Nate Mateo redeemed himself from an earlier booboo from the 15-foot line when he drilled a reverse layup cutting the lead to one anew, 61-69, with 20.3 seconds left in the game.

The G-Stars made two defensive stops to regain possession and grabbed the lead. Sylvan Rangamar did the first stop when he tapped the ball out of Jester Kaipat’s hands. The Kontenders retained possession and inbounded the ball from the sideline at midcourt. Soana Pua passed the ball to Dillay, who lost the possession to Dan Mateo.

Dan went for the basket and was fouled.

Dan was still wobbling when he stepped to the free throw line as earlier he was accidentally hit by Dillay on the left jaw while trying to prevent the Kontenders player from cutting to the middle.

Dan was forced to sit out going into the last one minute of the match, but returned with vengeance in his eyes, canning both charities that put the G-Stars back in the driver’s seat, 63-62, with 15.6 seconds left in the game.

Kontenders coach Ben Tagabuel sued for time to map out a game-winning play. But just before Tagabuel’s wards make an inbound from the sideline at midcourt, G-Stars mentor Jose Tumaquip also called a time out.

It was an end game tactic for Tumaquip, who wanted the Kontenders to inbound the ball from the G-Stars’ backcourt and waste a couple of seconds before their foes reach their frontcourt.

But the ball did not even advance midcourt in the Kontenders’ first try, as Nate Mateo stole it, drove to the right baseline, but was forced to kick the ball out when he was trapped by Kaipat.

Kaipat had a presence of mind to move away from the baseline when Nate Mateo was trying to slam the ball the ball back to him. Once inside, Kaipat picked up the loose ball and pitched it to Dillay, who failed to complete the game-winning basket.

The one-point win allowed the G-Stars to join the Sixers, CNMI Junior Nationals, and the Rollers I in the semifinals.

The Final Four round will be played tonight with the G-Stars challenging the Junior Nationals in the first game at 5:30pm. The second semis pairing will have the Sixers dueling the Rollers I at 7pm.

Winners of the semis matches will collide for the title tomorrow at 7pm. Losers will battle for the consolation trophy at 5:30pm.

Nate Mateo top-scored for the G-Stars with 24 points, while twin brother Dan chipped in 16.

Kaipat led the Kontenders with 23 points. Dillay and Pua contributed 14 and 13 markers, respectively.

The Kontenders were eliminated in the 18-and-under caging along with the Southern Sonics, Kagman Suns, and the Chalan Kanoa Saints. The Rollers II was the first team to be ousted in the annual caging after finishing the regular season with a dismal 1-7 record.

G-Stars 63 – N. Mateo 24, D. Mateo 16, L. Rangamar 11, Jung 4, Kenty 4, S. Rangamar, 2, Ichihara 2.

Kontenders 62 – Kaipat 23, E. Dillay 14, Pua 12, Dowei 6, Pomee 4, Ogumoro 3.

Scoring by halves: 32-22, 63-62.