Dramatic wins in UFO Bud Cup playoffs

Exciting games were played last weekend.

In the UFO Bud Cup playoffs, Bayani/Mobil eliminated Cabalen/Noni, 110-105, after the latter committed crucial turnovers in the homestretch. Cabalen gave up the win with still 8.3 seconds as it walked out of the match.

Two days after Bayani’s come-from-behind win, MAFEA/Ali’i Konflikt also recorded a clutch triumph over VisMinda/Satbahi, 79-77. J.R. Barrios drilled the game-winning basket in the last .5 second of the tiff.

VisMinda protested the last-second shot, but UFO organizers thumbed down the complaint.

Still in the UFO caging, Namfrel/Proa survived Mobil’s rally to eke out a 110-105 victory and grabbed the first finals berth.

In the UFO Docomo Cup, MDX/Armatech clinched the masters crown after beating 2010 champion Cabalen/Wings Travel in the finals, 84-79. The win was decided from the foul line with Wings Travel losing the match as it went 2-for-16 from the stripe.

Also nailing championship wins were five pairs who ruled their respective divisions in the 2011 Shirley’s Badminton Classic. The list include Dick Guintu and Hannah Choi, Gary Bandoja and Choi, Heo In Sook and Bandoja, Mario Diola and Choi, Kim Boranah and Joel Ortega.

Other notable events last week were the opening of the MISO girls caging, the playoff matches in the Rotary league, and the NMIFa youth league.

Saipan International School drew first blood in the MISO varsity caging after downing Kagman High School, 40-31, while Marianas High School clobbered Saipan Southern High School, 81-27.

In the Rotary caging, the Sonics and Rollers Basketball Club Fast 12 advanced to the next round after winning their first round playoff matches. The Sonics ousted the Ol’Aces, 60-41, while Fast 12 defeated RBC Ray Basa-Kagman Rollers, 78-39.

In the NMIFA youth league, MP United 1 edged sister team MP United 2 for a share of the lead with Tan Holdings FC in the boys U15 division. Tan Holdings matched MP United’s 2-0 record after whipping Shirley’s FC 1 in Week 2, 12-1.

In the girls U15, Matansa also improved to a 2-0 slate and took the early lead after prevailing over MP United, 2-1. Other winners in Week 2 were Shirley’s FC in the girls U15, Matansa in the boys U15, and Paire FC in the boys U18.