Contrasting wins for Warriors 1, NMI Rollers

A Chinatown Titans player attacks the defense of two NSA Warriors 1 defenders during the first half of their boys U18 division game in the Diaz youth caging last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The NSA Warriors 1 and NMI Law Rollers earned victories in the boys U18 division of the 2018 Frank M. Diaz Memorial Youth League in contrasting fashion last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the curtain-raiser, the Warriors 1 eased past the Chinatown Titans, 82-46, while the NMI Law Rollers pulled off a 45-42 triumph over the NSA Warriors 2 in the second match.

The NMI Law Rollers stole the win from the Warriors 2 despite failing to hit a single field goal in the first quarter and falling behind majority of the game. The NMI Law Rollers were held to three free throws in the opening quarter to face a 3-7 deficit and was still behind at the break, 8-17, before hanging on to a 29-28 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Ervin Villarin-led squad went on to complete the come-from-behind victory, as they played a balance offense in the fourth canto. Villarin and six other NMI Law Rollers scored in the fourth quarter, while only three hit the board for the Warriors 2 in the payoff period.

Villarin finished with a team-high 14 points, while Joel Norita had 17 on a losing effort for the Warriors 2.

In the first game, the Warrios 1 gained control of the match in the second canto and then pulled away in the third en route to the 36-point victory.

The Warriors were clinging to a 19-18 lead at the end of the first period when Donnie Fejeran dropped 12 of his 19 points in the second to lift his team to a 39-23 advantage at the break.

When the game resumed, it was Henry Aguon’s turn to step up, making 8 points and outgunning the entire Titans crew for their commanding 67-30 lead. The Warriors then kept pouncing on the Titans in the fourth quarter to complete the lopsided win.

Five Warriors 1 players scored in twin digits with Aguon adding 17 and Travis Mawelbug, Vince Igitol, and Kekuni Kainoa contributing 14, 13, and 11, respectively.

The boys U18 division of the Diaz caging is on the final stage of the regular season with the playoffs set this Saturday. Only the Top 8 teams out of the 13 will make it to the postseason. The playoffs have a single-elimination format with the title match scheduled on June 13.

First Game
Warriors 1 82 — Fejeran 19, Aguon 17, Mawelbug 14, Igitol 13, Kainoa 11, Magofna 6.
Chinatown Titans 46 — De Jose 16, Alfeche 10, Calayag 6, De Guzman 4, Bautista 4, Ranin 2, Azar 2.
Scoring by quarters: 19-18, 39-23, 67-30, 82-46.

Second Game
NMI Law Rollers 45 — Villarin 14, Jacinto 7, Agulto 6, Pangelinan 6, Wenio 4, Cruz 4, Indalecio 2, Baleros 2.
Warriors 2 42 — Norita 17, Camacho 10, Falig 7, Garde 4, Jones 4.
Scoring by quarters: 3-7, 8-17, 29-28, 45-42.