Hole In the Wall tops 3×3 tourney

From left, Hole in the Wall’s Joe Sablan, Mak Mintak, Dean Blake, and Dennis Mendiola pose with their championship rings around the necks and trophy after winning the finals of the open division of yesterday’s Marianas Mariana Islands Basketball League 3×3 Season 2 tournament at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. (Mark Rabago)

There was nothing pedestrian about Hole in the Wall after the Eats Easy-backed team topped the open division of the Marianas Mariana Islands Basketball League 3×3 Season 2 tournament yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

MVP Mak Mintak, Dean Blake, Dennis Mendiola, and Joe Sablan led early on before repulsing a late comeback by defending champion Mixed Breed to win 15-11 in the third and final championship game of the two-day tournament.

Mendiola, who came out of semi-retirement to play in the 3×3, rebounded like he was 10 years younger and his put-back with 5:53 remaining gave Hole in the Wall an early 8-3 lead.

But Mixed Breed refused to go down without a fight, as freshly inserted Coby Santos’ 3-pointer and a timely hit by Greg Sablan few moments later moved them within 3 points, 6-9.

Mintak was clutch personified in the next few plays, as his rainbow shot extended Hole in the Wall’s advantage to 5 points, 11-6, with time down to 4:57.

Sablan and company continued to battle and trimmed their deficit down to 4 points a couple of times with the last time at 9-13, before Mintak personally took charge on a 2-0 run to put the game away and seal the championship for Hole in the Wall.

Mintak top-scored with 8 points, while Blake and Mendiola added 4 and 3 markers, respectively. Sablan paced Mix Breed with 5 points, while Santos and Franko Bondoc added 3 points apiece. Jeff Castro completed the four-man team of Mixed Breed.

Mendiola, a former Guam national team member who used to be known as Dennis Camacho, said Hole in the Wall was as surprised as everyone else that they topped the tournament.

Hole in the Wall’s Mak Mintak splits the defense of Mix Breed’s Jeff Castro and Greg Sablan in the finals of the open division of the Marianas Mariana Islands Basketball League 3×3 Season 2 tournament yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. (Mark Rabago)

“We didn’t expect to win. We just came out and tried to have a good time. It was a great opportunity to play with young guys. So, we came out and just did it,” he said.

The Department of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services commissioner also thanked his teammates for sticking to their strategy of him coming off the bench.

“Because I was coming out of retirement the strategy was to let the younger boys play first and conserve my energy and keep rotating out. Toward the end, I needed to play a little bit more they kind of let me play a little bit more. Thanks to our point guard Mr. Mak as he held us strong by controlling that ball and managing the game and he was a little bit strong for us,” he said.

Mendiola even showed that through the years he’s become deadeye shooter from 3-point land or in the case of the 3×3 from 2-point land, hitting a crucial rainbow hit in their quarterfinals win against IT&E Ali’i. “I got lucky on that 3.”

Mintac, for his part, shrugged off his upset loss in the slam dunk contest earlier to tow Hole in the Wall to the championship.

“[I was] really tired in the slam dunk [contest] because I just finished the semifinals. [I want] to thank my teammates for helping me win the MVP. [It was also all] about teamwork and go to the mismatches because we’re a tall team,” he said.

For Blake, his decision to defect from Mix Breed to Hole in the Wall proved to be a good move as the big man now has won back-to-back 3×3 championships. He also savored playing with Mendiola, as the 6’1” center’s presence allowed him to play power forward.

“Easier for us to get rebounds and put-backs,” he said.

IT&E and Cristiano’s are the “MVP” sponsors of the MIBL 3×3 Season 2. Shirley’s Coffee Shop, Eats Easy, Hong Ye Hardware, The Angry Penne, Latte Built Gym, Hot Deals, and The Game Athletics also supported the event as “All-Star” sponsors.

Results of the 16-and-under and women’s division of the MIBL 3×3 Season 2 tournament will be published in the next issues of the Saipan Tribune.