Lady Ayuyus share title with ex-teammate

Although Chelsea Ruluked left the Lady Ayuyus last year after helping Kagman win back-to-back titles, coach Francis San Nicolas said she was still part of the team’s three-peat in the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Basketball League this season.

“We really missed her on the team and on the court. We played hard in the finals for her and we would like to share this victory with her,” said San Nicolas a few minutes after the Lady Ayuyus’ 56-47 triumph over the MHS Dolphins in the title rematch Friday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

“I believe when Chelsea knew we were in the finals, again, she wished she was with us to cheer for the team and support us. But she was with us in spirit,” San Nicolas added.

Kagman’s nine-point win over MHS was the Lady Ayuyus’ lone victory against the Lady Dolphins this season and San Nicolas was happy his wards delivered in the game that counted the most.

MHS won the first meeting by five points, 48-43, and made it 2-0 with a 57-48 triumph in the second outing.

“The girls were too emotional after losing to MHS twice in the regular season. But I told my players that the playoff round is what really counts and we must do our best to be in the finals. They all agreed that the playoff round is more important,” San Nicolas said.

The Lady Ayuyus passed the first hurdle to the finals after beating Mt. Carmel in the semifinals, 64-40.

In the finals, Kagman was off to a rough start, but San Nicolas did not press the panic button, as he believed with good defense and teamwork, the Lady Ayuyus could still pull it off.

“When we scored only four points in the first quarter, I said to my girls that there are three quarters left. We still had a lot of time, so calm down and have fun. We made adjustments in the second quarter, playing man-to-man defense. MHS’ trapping defense was good, but we practiced on how to break that press,” San Nicolas said.

After trailing by 10 in the first quarter, 4-14, Kagman took the lead at halftime, 20-19. The Lady Ayuyus also had the driver’s seat at the end of the third period, 38-33, before a 9-0 start in the fourth quarter allowed MHS to grab the lead, 42-38.

Then Mercedes Mesa, who took take over Ruluked’s lead role on Kagman’s offense, sparked the Lady Ayuyus’ 9-0 run in 22 seconds, hitting back-to-back triples.

“Mesa’s triple was a momentum shift for KHS squad. The team felt that, so they played like there was no tomorrow,” San Nicolas said.

Mesa’s trey put Kagman back into the lead, 43-42, and the Lady Ayuyus made it a three-point lead on an Agatha Repeki layup after MHS missed on the other end.

After Repeki’s layup, Yvonne Bennet stole an inbound pass, giving way to another Mesa triple.

A split from Stacie Mizutani gave Kagman a 50-42 lead, going into the last two minutes of the game and despite the eight-point lead, San Nicolas told his wards there’s still no room for celebration.

“I had never felt that the title was in the bag for Kagman when we took the lead. Why? I always wait for the last buzzer of the game. I always tell my girls when you hear the last buzzer, that is when you celebrate. I know this through experience,” San Nicolas said.

“Mesa’s second triple was one of the best things that happened to the team. Overall, Friday’s win was a result of team effort. Everybody did what they had to do—rebounding scoring, assisting, blocking, and stealing the ball,” the KHS coach added.