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Jericho sweeps Rotary MVP honors
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Posted on Nov 07 2008
The CNMI Junior Nationals high-flying forward Jericho Cruz shook hands with Rotary officials several times, as he went home with the most trophies during the awards ceremony in the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
Cruz claimed the highest individual honors in the 18-and-under league, as he was named most valuable player of the regular season.
The Marianas High School sophomore was the top scorer for the Junior Nationals in the regular season averaging more than 20 points per game. He led his team to a perfect 8-0 record in the regular season.
In the championship game between the CNMI Junior Nationals and Rollers I Thursday night, Cruz helped the former control the match early and finish with 20 points to lead his team to back-to-back Rotary titles.
The Junior National cruised to a 70-52 victory over Rollers I to defend the title they won over the Southern Sonics in 2007.
Cruz was later named Finals MVP and led the Rotary All-Selection Team of the 2008 season of the youth caging.
Joining Cruz on the elite group were teammates Marvin Rabauliman, the Sixers’ Joe Ada and Ernest Duenas, Rollers I’s Manny Matagolai, and Kontenders’ Trevor Ogumoro.
Matagolai notched his second trophy when we was named scoring champion.
The Sixers took home the third place trophy, beating the G-Stars in the consolation match, 65-53.
The G-Stars went home with two trophies, claiming the fourth place plum and the sportsmanship award.
Nine teams competed in this year’s Rotary caging.
Completing the list were the Chalan Kanoa Saints, Kagman Suns, and Rollers II, which was the first team to be eliminated in the league.
The Saints bowed to the Sixers in the quarterfinals, allowing the latter to set up a semis duel with Rollers I, which defeated the G-Stars.
Rollers I, which was seeded third in the playoffs, pulled off a 73-71 upset over the Sixers in the semifinals, to advance to the title match.
The Junior Nationals were paired with the Sonics in the quarterfinals, won the match and went on to earn a return trip to the finals after whipping the G-Stars, 64-53, in the semis.
