Happiness edges Blue Haus, 49-48

Rollers Happiness slipped past Blue Haus, 49-48, in the Rollers Basketball Club Step-Up Tournament’s late night match last Monday at the Garapan Basketball Court.

Happiness took an early 22-15 lead in the opening frame off a balanced attack. Five Happiness players chipped in four points apiece, while Blue Haus struggled to find the bottom of the net in the first half.

Blue Haus’ Brandon Aulerio and Luizi Reyes mounted a comeback attempt after the break, teaming up for 18 markers, but Happiness’ Zack Babauta and Alex Lauron held it together and thwarted the effort.

The smaller Blue Haus scrappers forced 20 turnovers in the game, but Happiness won the battle of the boards and was rewarded with multiple second chance baskets.

Lauron led Happiness with 11 points, while Brandon Aulreio turned in a game-high 18 in the defeat.

In other results, RBC U16-A was leading RBC U14-B, 38-24, with six minutes left in the second half of Monday’s curtain raiser, but the game was postponed due to time constraints. RBC U14-A was awarded a win via forfeit against the Hoops in the second game, while RBC Madness defeated Satbahi in the third pairing, 54-48.

In Game 3, Madness managed a 27-23 advantage in the first half; Dominic Reyes led the team with five markers in the frame.

Madness pressed on in the payoff period as seven different players contributed on offense. Josh Norita and Chris Mizer combined for 11 points in the clutch. Mizer led Madness with 10 points, while Satbahi’s Inos and Tengco topped the field with 12 markers apiece on the short end.

The Step-Up tournament aims to help younger players compete at a higher level, while still forcing the more experienced players to work on their half court offensive strategies.

The competition continues tomorrow night with RBC U18 taking on RBC U16-A at 4:30pm, followed by the Satbahi-Hoops tussle at 5:30pm. Then RBC U16-A returns to the court to face off with adult Madness at 6:30pm, while Blue Haus challenges RBC U14-B in the 7:30pm closer.

Madness 54[/B] – Mizer 10, D. Reyes 9, Manglona 8, J. Norita 8, Ogarto 6, Z. Babauta 4, P. Nortita 4, Litulumar 3, Ulloa 2.
[B] Satbahi 48[/B] – Inos 12, Tengco 12, Chen 8, Sablan 8, Sison 8.

Happiness 49[/B] – Lauron 11, Z. Diaz 10, Palacios 8, Z. Babauta 6, Ulloa 4, Lisua 4, D. Tenorio 4, Galulu 2.
[B] Blue Haus 48[/B] – Aulerio 18, Brennan 9, L. Reyes 8, Torres 6, J. Lizama 4, Basa 2.