Lady Knights down Lady Eagles

Mt. Carmel School’s Louisa Han, left, jockeys for position in the paint against Grace Christian Academy’s Tina Choi, second left, as the latter’s teammate Karena Torres unloads a point-blank shot during their game in the CCOPSA caging yesterday at the Koberville Gymnasium. (Roby N. Pamintuan)

Mount Carmel School fended off Grace Christian Academy’s comeback attempt in the fourth quarter to pull off a 26-20 victory in the girls division game in the 2018-2019 Commonwealth Coalition of Private Schools Association Varsity Basketball League yesterday at the Koblerville Gymnasium.

Fiona Bucalig halted the Lady Eagles’ rally when she scored all of the Lady Knights’ 4 points in the fourth quarter, including the buzzer-beating fastbreak layup. She finished the match with 8 points.

Before Bucalig’s heroics, Mt. Carmel squandered a double-digit lead it got in the third quarter, 22-10. Jasmine Phan, Karena Torres, and Tina Choi combined for 10 points in the fourth quarter to bring GCA back into the game, but the Lady Eagles failed to complete the come-from-behind win, no thanks to Bucalig’s pair of baskets. Phan had a team-high 7 points, while fellow seniors Torres and Cho contributed 4 markers apiece.

The Lady Knights led from start to finish, holding the Lady Eagles to three field goals in the first half for a 16-7 advantage at the break.

Mt. Carmel captain Louisa Han scored all of her team’s baskets in the first quarter to lift the Knights to a 6-2 lead. Then in the second canto, the Bucalig sisters—Fiona and Franchesca—took matters into their own hands and teamed up for 10. Franchesca Bucalig netted 6 and Fiona added 4 for the Knights’ 9-point advantage at the half.

When the game resumed, Franchesca, Kalyn Diaz, Vicky Ancheta each scored 2 points in the third period to bring the Lady Knights’ lead to 12.

The Lady Eagles fell further behind, as they mustered a meager 3 points in the penultimate frame, while Phan, Torres, and Tina Choi were not able to overhaul the deficit in the final canto.

With the victory, the Lady Knights now have a 2-0 record and are in solo first place in the team standings, while the Lady Eagles took a step back with their 1-1 mark.

Meanwhile, the Knights had a sweep yesterday, as MCS 1 outclassed GCA in the closely contested boys division match, 39-36.

Michael Johnson and Matthew Ong finished with 10 and 9 points, respectively, while Angelo Factor and Chioni Dela Cruz pumped in 8 markers apiece for MCS 1. Ryan Choi and Seung Jun Baek finished in double figures on a losing effort for GCA, with the former netting 13 markers and the latter adding 10 points.

The Knights improved to a 4-2 card, while GCA stumbled to a 2-4 record. MCS 1 also kept the third spot in the standing behind Saipan Southern High School (4-0) and Kagman High School (4-1).

The Ayuyus bagged their fourth win after doubling up Agape Christian School 2, 48-24, in the other boys division match at the former’s court in Kagman.

Presley Augustino and Edward Reyes led Kagman after scoring 8 points each, while team captain Dean Blake chipped in 7.

With the loss, Agape 2 is still winless in six games.

Kagman eyes win No. 5 today when it faces GCA at the Ayuyus turf at 3:30pm. Also scheduled at 3:30pm is the game between Saipan International School and Agape 1 at the Geckos court in As Lito, while the unbeaten Manta Rays will take on MCS 2 at the Koblerville Gymnasium at 4:30pm.

Mt. Carmel School’s Louisa Han, center, drives against Grace Christian Academy players during their game in the CCOPSA caging yesterday at the Koberville Gymnasium. (Roby N. Pamintuan)