Dough Boys, KFC dominate foes

Rollers’ Prince Factor tries to get away from the defense of two Kagman Sparks players during the third quarter of their U21 game in the BANMI youth league yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)6

Two more teams had winning debuts in the opening week of the 2014 BANMI Youth League.

Dough Boys and Kentucky Fried Chicken barged into the win column early after prevailing in their U18 and U21 matches, respectively, last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. Dough Boys cruised to a 56-41 victory against the CNMI Girls Nationals in the U18 division game, while KFC topped Laly 4, 54-43, in the U21 pairing.

KFC held Laly 4 to single digits in scoring in the second and third quarters to take control of the match en route to an impressive debut. KFC was ahead by only 6 after the first period, 18-12, when it more than doubled Laly 4’s output in the second canto to bring a baker’s dozen lead at the break, 31-18. Seven different players lit up the board for KFC in the second frame, while only two scored for Laly 4.

Laly 4 continued to bleed for points in the third period, while KFC struggled a bit, but still outgunned the former, 11-8, to stretch the advantage to 16, 42-26, entering the final quarter.

In the payoff canto, Laly 4 converted a couple of triples, but these were not enough to bring the team back into the game, as KFC countered with timely baskets to preserve the safe lead. June Alipio drilled 6 of his 8 points in the fourth frame to help KFC keep its distance against Laly 4. Alipio and four other KFC players scored at least 6 points apiece for the team’s balance offense.

Laly 4 relied heavily on Derek Olopai, who logged a game-high 18 points. Sylvester Kapileo was the second best scorer for Laly 4 with 6.

In the first game, Mii Tekopua unloaded 20 points to power Dough Boys to the 15-point win over the CNMI Girls Nationals.

Tekopua drained all but 2 of Dough Boys’ 10 points in the first period and added 6 more in the second, as his team turned a 10-6 lead to a 25-16 advantage at the half. He went cold in the third period, making only 2 points, but Chico Bondoc stepped up, firing 8 to increase Dough Boys’ lead to 10, 39-29, going into the fourth and final quarter.

Other Dough Boys players found their targets in the fourth, preventing the CNMI Girls Nationals from making any headway. All eight Dough Boys players hit the board in their debut game.

CNMI Girls Nationals also fielded eight players in their first match this season with Rachel Abrams top-scoring for the squad with her 14 markers.

Meanwhile, the U21 division resumed action last night with the Rollers battling the Kagman Sparks, but results of the match were unavailable at press time and will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Wednesday edition.

First Game
Dough Boys 56 – Tekopua 20, Bondoc 12, Raquero 6, Esmundo 6, Guerrero 3, Iba 2, Espinosa 2, Igroby 2.

CNMI Girls Nationals 41 – Abrams 14, Pagarao 8, Alegre 5, Travilla 4, Pena 4, Mendoza 4, Cruz 2.

Scoring by quarters: 10-6, 25-16, 39-29, 56-41.

Second Game
KFC 54 – Camacho 9, Cruz 8, Alipio 8, Pamintuan 6, Borromeo 6, Gunnacao 5, Muleta 4, Deocares 4, Feria 2.

Laly 4 43 – Olopai 18, S. Kapileo 6, B. Lisua 5, E. Lisua 4, J. Kapileo 4, Rogolifoi 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-12, 31-18, 42-26, 54-43.