CNMI cage teams drop opening games

The CNMI went 0-3 at the start of the 2011 U15 Micronesian Basketball Tournament last Monday at the Palau National Gymnasium.

In the boys division, the Commonwealth’s cagers dropped two games in Day 1, while the CNMI cagebelles lost their debut.

The Ed Manalili-coached CNMI U15 boys squad was the first to play, battling Guam in the second game of the day. The lack of firepower took its toll on the CNMI team early, as the beefier Guam squad ran away with a 105-39 victory. The Commonwealth sent only seven players in the boys competition in Palau after three failed to complete the needed documents for the trip.

With a depleted squad, the CNMI fell behind by doubles digits after the opening quarter, 23-12, according to the tournament website. Guam never looked back from thereon to notch its first win.

Jacob Palacios led the CNMI in scoring in their debut, firing 11 points, while Ethan Manalili added eight. Kurtis Silvia paced Guam with 17 points, while Daniel Del Carmen also finished in double figures with 13.

Next to see action in Day 1 were the CNMI cagebelles, who also met Guam and lost, too, 36-86.

Melody Johnson was the top-scorer for the Commonwealth with 10, while Rachel Abrams and Kaylani Lebria contributed six apiece.

Guam controlled the match right at the opening quarter and pulled away, 21-6. CNMI slowly got to its rhythm in the second canto, but still fell behind at halftime, 19-43. Guam went on to pick up where it left off in the second half for a blowout win.

Day 1 of the youth competition closed out with a game between host Palau and the CNMI in the boys division.

Christian Mizer exploded for 22 points, but the CNMI still lost, 53-74. Josephus Aguilar added 11 for the Commonwealth.

R.B. Durado led Palau’s win, as he also scored 22 markers, while Marvic Nghcar tallied 17.

The CNMI was hoping to make it to the win column yesterday against Guahan—Guam’s second team. Manalili’s wards were also set to duel Palau’s second team—Belau. The Commonwealth’s cagebelles were scheduled to play two matches yesterday with their first game against Palau and the second over Belau. Results of these matches were unavailable at press time.

In other results in Day 1, Palau went 2-0 in the boys division, as it also beat Guahan, 73-65. Guahan has a 1-1 record after recovering with an 88-55 victory over Belau.

In the girls division, Palau won the battle of sister teams after topping Belau, 64-18.