Finals sweep for Saipan Vegas

” width=”410″ height=”669″ class=”size-full wp-image-312377″ /> Saipan Vegas’ Coby Santos pulls up for a one-hander against IT&E’s Ivan Devero, while the latter’s teammate Bart Demapan looks on during Game 2 of their title series in the 2019 Atkins Kroll Marianas International Basketball League last Sunday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. (Kimberly A. Bautista)[/caption]

Saipan Vegas swept IT&E in their title series in the 2019 Atkins Kroll Marianas International Basketball League after a thrilling 91-89 overtime win in Game 2 last Sunday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Spectators were kept at the edge of their seats all night long, as Saipan Vegas and IT&E battled back and forth and needed extra five minutes to settle the closely fought match.

Saipan Vegas eventually delivered in the homestretch, thanks to Coby Santos’ key baskets. The Mythical Five Team member scored the basket that sent the game into overtime and also hit the go-ahead in the extension to help Saipan Vegas finish the best-of-three championship series.

With Saipan Vegas behind, 79-81, Santos charged through IT&E defenders and made a layup to knot the count, 81-81. After Santos’ crucial basket, IT&E was left with 10 seconds to hit the game-winning shot that would have brought the finals series to a deciding Game 3. However, both Gerald Flores and Sean Rabasto faltered in their last-ditch efforts to hand IT&E the victory in regulation.

Then in overtime, the game remained a nip-and-tuck battle with Jack Aranda hitting the first shot in the extra time to give the lead back to IT&E. 83-81. However, Saipan Vegas quickly countered off Santos’ layup, while a deuce from Aiferson Atan after an IT&E miss put the eventual champion on top, 85-83.

Saipan Vegas’ hold to the lead, however, was short-lived, as Errol Peredo answered with his own field goal for another deadlock, 85-all. The seesaw battle continued with IT&E regaining the upper hand, 87-85, after Flores’ bucket, but the match was tied for the nth time following a pair of free throws from Jack Lizama with a little over a minute left in the extension.

A layup from Douglas Schmidt swung the lead back to Vegas, 89-87, but IT&E refused to give up with Flores making a point-blank shot for the final standoff, 89-all, down to the last 53 seconds of the exciting game.

Santos, who was held to 6 points in the entire first half, continued to redeem himself in the second and the overtime, as his layup against a couple of IT&E defenders put Saipan Vegas in the lead, 91-89, down to the last 40 seconds and change in the match.

Saipan Vegas went on to keep the shaky lead, as IT&E failed to cash in on multiple opportunities to score, including a trip to the foul line where Flore missed two important free throws after getting a foul from Atan. Rabasto also faltered on his layup in the ensuing play, while Saipan Vegas wisely moved the ball around and avoided being fouled by IT&E defenders as time expired, handing the eventual champion an unbeaten record in the inaugural league.

Saipan Vegas swept the regular season, getting nine wins and took four in the playoffs, as they also swept Caravan’s in the semis. In the finals, Saipan Vegas coasted to a 91-69 victory in Game 1 before laboring through an overtime win in Game 2.

Saipan Vegas’ Douglas Schmidt drives against three IT&E defenders during Game 2 of their title series in the 2019 Atkins Kroll Marianas International Basketball League last Sunday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. (Kimberly A. Bautista)

Schmidt top-scored for Saipan Vegas in Game 2 with his 25 points, while Santos added 19.

Saipan Vegas 91—Schmidt 25, Santos 19, Basa 17, Lizama 14, Bondoc 5, Atan 4, Sablan 4, Deleon Guerrero 1.
IT&E 89—Rabasto 15, Demapan 14, Peredo 13, Flores 12, Devero 10, Barbo 9, Esdrelon 6, Aranda 5, Talania 5.
Scoring by quarters: 24-14, 31-34, 60-62, 81-81, 91-89 (OT)