Previous Story
Hopwood, San Antonio split titles
|
Posted on May 24 2016
A Hopwood Junior High School 1 player goes up for an uncontested layup during their title game against San Antonio Middle School in the 2016 PSS Middle School Basketball Tournament last Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Hopwood Junior High School 1 outclassed San Antonio Middle School, 53-42, in the boys finale of the 2016 PSS Middle School Basketball Tournament held over the weekend at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
Hopwood 1’s title win in last Sunday’s game foiled San Antonio’s bid for a sweep in the competition. Earlier in the first game, San Antonio’s girls squad downed Hopwood, 21-13, in the winner-take-all match.
Cassandra Camacho, daughter of veteran CNMI player Peter Camacho, scored 6 points in the finale and teamed up with Sylvina Simran in stunning the favored Hopwood, which incidentally was coached by the former’s aunt—Connie Camacho. Simran matched Camacho’s production, while Terri Borja chipped in 4. Kaitlin and Kristine Borja were the other scorers for Hopwood, combining for 5.
Camacho dropped all her points in the homestretch to hand Hopwood its lone loss in the tournament.
In the boys finale, Hopwood made sure San Antonio will not make it two in a row against the Hilitai, as the eventual champion controlled the game right at the get-go.
J.P. Cruz anchored the title win, firing a game-high 18 points, including 8 straight markers and back-to-back triples in the closing minutes of the match. He nailed 14 of his total production in the second half to give Hopwood the double-digit winning margin.
Cruz also drew enough support from his teammates, as six other Hopwood players contributed at least 4 points each. Hopwood’s balance scoring and Cruz’s timely baskets in the second half spoiled the solid game of Rikko Saralu for San Antonio. Saralu had a team-high 16 markers, including San Antonio’s last 6 points.
Saralu also had a string of 6 markers in the first half to keep San Antonio in the game, as Hopwood ended halftime holding only a 5-point cushion, 24-19. However, the Zachariah Johnson-coached Hopwood pushed the tempo of the game in the second half and Cruz began hitting his target to gain a sizeable lead en route to their title win.
Hopwood 1 53 — Cruz 18, Reyes 6, Bravo 5, Favor 5, Elchico 5, Abejo 4, Bayot 4, De Leon 3, Cadag 2.
San Antonio 42— Saralu 16, John 14, Deleon Guerrero 4, Lizama 2, Ngeskebei 2, Maras 2.
