Ayuyus dethrone Rays in MISO caging

Tom Pangelinan made a reverse layup in the dying seconds of the game, lifting Kagman High School to an exciting 75-73 overtime win over Saipan Southern High School in the playoffs of the boys varsity division of the 2008-2009 MISO Basketball League Friday night at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

The victory dethroned the Manta Rays and sent the Ayuyus to a title showdown with the MHS Dolphins this week.

Pangelinan completed the game-winning play that started with Trevor Ogumoro’s inbound in the last 8.3 seconds of the overtime.

Making an inbound from midcourt opposite the players’ bench, Ogumoro threw the ball to Kyle Concepcion at the right sideline.

Concepcion was trapped at the sideline, as three Southern defenders collapsed on him, but he managed to see Pangelinan cutting to the middle and made the pass.

Pangelinan, who was several steps away from his closest defender, received the ball, dribbled to the left first, before making a crossover for a reverse layup, with 1.5 seconds left in the extension period.

Left without a timeout, Southern quickly inbounded the ball with Josh Kiyoshi pulling up for a desperation triple from midcourt and missing the shot that capped the Rays’ win-less season.

Southern had several chances to earn its first win of the season and make a return trip to the finals. In overtime, it led by four, 73-69, with 40 seconds left on the clock.

But Concepcion made an inside basket in the Ayuyus’ offensive set cutting the lead to two, 71-73, with 32 seconds left on the clock.

After Concepcion’s deuce, Kagman played pressured defense from the backcourt and forced a turnover. Edwin Camacho intercepted Masga’s pass to Ajoste and the former went for a daredevil drive and canned the game-tying basket, with 24.9 remaining in the game.

Southern committed another error when Ajoste stepped on the line in a baseline inbound play. But the Rays regained possession when a driving Concepcion banged into Masga and lost the ball to the right baseline.

Rays coach Jesse Tudela called a time out do map out a play in the last 8.3 seconds of the match.

When the game resumed, Nathan Flores was assigned to inbound the ball from midcourt for Southern. But he was called for a five-second violation, failing to pass the ball to his teammates.

Ogumoro showed Flores how to make a perfect inbound play, passing the ball to Concepcion, who then found Pangelinan at the middle for the game-winning basket.

Earlier, two free throws from Iguel in the last 9.4 seconds of the regulation sent the game in overtime.

Southern had an opportunity to win the game in regulation, but Lawrence Echon buzzer-beating jumper near the 15-foot line went too strong, bouncing off the back iron of the rim.

Lady Dolphins gain finals entry, again

In the girls varsity division, there will be a rematch between defending champions Lady Ayuyus and the Lady Dolphins.

MHS secured the second finals ticket after crushing the Lady Rays in the playoffs, 78-42.

The Lady Ayuyus earlier booked the first finals seat after whipping Mt. Carmel School. 64-40.

[B]Girls[/B] [B] MHS 78[/B] – Pagarao 24, L. Rangamar 17, Palero 11, Tacliad 9, Benavente 5, Guzman 4, Padilla 2, Javier 2, Duhig 2.
[B] SSHS 42[/B] – Flores 14, Sikyang 9, Joseph 8, Babauta 4, Mendiola 4, Kim 3.
[B] Scoring by quarters:[/B] 14-11, 30-20, 57-36, 78-42.

[B]Boys

KHS 75 [/B]– Iguel 21, Camacho 13, Pangelinan 9, Concepcion 9, Ogumoro 9, Brel 8, Hossain 2, Manglona 2.
[B] SSHS 73[/B] – Ajoste 19, Flores 16, Kiyoshi 15, Mendoza 12, Echon 4, Masga 4, Iglecias 3.

[B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 8-19, 25-33, 44-43, 61-all, 75-73.