Dolphins, Guam in lopsided wins

The Marianas Dolphins and Guam completed lopsided wins over their respective foes in the final day of round-robin play in the 2015 Micronesian Basketball Tournament U15 last night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Marianas Dolphins’ Emmanuel Cobacha, left, attacks the defense of Evan Miller of the Marianas Alu’u in their game in the 2015 Micronesian Basketball Tournament U15 last night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Jon Perez)

The Dolphins routed the Marianas Alu’u, 101-60, to finish with a 3-1 record. while Guam completed a four-game sweep to finish on top following a merciless 117-5 massacre of Marianas Tataga.

Guam will face the No. 4 Alu’u in the first semifinals match at 4pm today, while the Dolphins take on Palau (2-2) in the other Final Four encounter. The winners advance to the championship game on Saturday while the losers clash in the consolation match.

Guam’s win could be the most lopsided to be recorded in an amateur basketball tournament in the region. It also showed the huge disparity of Guam’s grassroots development over its northern island neighbors.

The Tataga was winless in the tournament where they gave up an average of 101 points a game, while only scoring 36 per outing. Palau and the Dolphins also reached the century mark against them.

Holden Barcinas led five other Guam players that scored in double digits with 22, while Mark Temerowski added 18 points, Tony Hsieh and Shane Terlaje tallied 12 each. Gabriel Simon and DeAndre Cruz scattered 11 and 10 markers, respectively.

J.P. Cruz and Joseph Kisa had a field goal each for the Tataga, while Elijah Quiroz had a split from the free throw line.

In the second game, the Dolphins used a second-quarter breakaway in cruising past the Alu’u.

The Dolphins led 17-12 after the first 10 minutes of play, but poured on the points in the second period to put the game out of reach. They continued their offensive onslaught until the final buzzer.

Christian Arceo and Curtis Dancoe finished 1-2 in scoring for the Dolphins with 19 and 16 points each, while Emmanuel Cobacha and Aaron Ogumoro combined for 28 markers. Jun Alipio and Jude Tengco chipped in 10 each.

Rikko Lizama paced the Alu’u’s losing cause with 17, while Evan Miller contributed 15 markers.

First Game
Guam 117 – Barcinas 22, Temerowski 18, Hsieh 12, Terlaje 12, Simon 11, Cruz 10, Calvo 8, Min 8, Rosas 8, Grape 4, San Luis 4.

Marianas Tataga 5 – Cruz 2, Kisa 2, Quiroz 1.

Scoring by quarters: 26-2, 55-4, 85-5, 117-5.

Second Game
Marianas Dolphins 101 – Arceo 19, Dancoe 16, Cobacha 14, Ogumoro 14, Alipio 10, Tengco 10, Factor 7, Mamaril 4, Dela Cruz 3, Mendoza 2, Quiroz 2.

Marianas Alu’u 60 – Lizama 17, Miller 15, Norita 7, Islam 6, Itaas 6, Pangelinan 4, Favor 3, Apasan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-12, 45-21, 74-44, 101-60.