MBI survives IT&E in double OT

 Rollers Basketball Club’s Micronesian Brokers, Inc. fended off scrappy sister team IT&E Rollers after catching its second wind in double overtime of Monday’s Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League U15 matchup at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium in Gualo Rai.

In other results, the Docomo Rollers breezed past the Ol’Aces in the curtain raiser, 55-35; and Kuniochi busted the Party Rockers, 43-23, in the late tip. Notably, the quarterscores of Docomo’s victory were not recorded.

However, William Camacho and Prince Factor combined for 21 points in the game.

The playoffs kick off tonight at 4:30pm with NMC Proa against Kunoichi followed at 5:30pm with Docomo Rollers taking on IT&E Rollers.

Tonight’s winner will advance to play each other in Friday’s finals after the consolation match.

Both MBI and IT&E struggled to find the mark early on as it was deadlocked at 4-all after the opening eight minutes.

It remained prominently a defensive match, however IT&E managed a two-point lead, 9-7, at halftime.

After the break, MBI’s John Cano scrambled for five points late in the third quarter to knot up the count at 14-all heading into the final period of regulation.

Although MBI had experience, height, and power, underdog IT&E found an answer to everything that was thrown at them.

MBI’s Perez Regis delivered a handful of markers in the fourth period, but a late 3-pointer by IT&E’s Angelo Factor helped force five minutes of bonus basketball. The score ended up tied at 24-all after the fourth quarter bell.

Then after being kept in check in the entire second half, IT&E’s C.J. Morales caught fire with five clutch points in the fourth period, including a buzzer beater trey from the top of the key to force a second overtime.

In the second extra period, however MBI finally pulled it together and started to make all of the close shots under the basket that they were missing earlier in the game.

IT&E was held to just two points in the second overtime, but all things considered, the team can easily chalk up the game as a moral victory.

MBI may have escaped with the win, but has a load of improvements to make if they expect to compete on a high-level at the Take Care Thanksgiving Hoopfest in Guam.

In the last pairing, Kunoichi shot out of the gate to a 13-7 lead in the opening period.

Kunoichi’s defense continued to show promise, holding Party Rockers to just four points in the second quarter as they jumped ahead, 20-11, at the pause.

Glorily Williams led Kunoichi with six points that was complimented by a couple of 3-pointers in the first half.

Kunoichi’s defense showed no mercy and stuffed Party Rockers to just four markers again in the third quarter, while a handful of Kunoichi players tallied a daunting, 34-15, margin after three quarters. The game was well out of reach by the start of the last period.

Kunoichi’s Williams turned in a game-high 12 points, while Rachel Abrams led Party Rockers with a dismal eight markers.

First Game

Docomo 55– Camacho 11, Factor 10, Feria 8, Pangelinan 7, Floresca 6, Tuba 6, Iglesias 6, Cadiang 4, Malonzo 3.

Ol’Aces 35 – Salano 7, Cruz 6, Dela Cruz 6, Ocaya 6, Ellama 4, Alfred 2, Pascual 2, Tadeo 2.

Second Game

MBI 43 – Cano 14, Darag 9, Regis 7, Zion 4, Battung 3, Cadua 2, DeLuna 2, Fidelino 2.

IT&E 31 – Morales 12, Feria 6, A Factor 3, Rios 3, Abobo 2, Cruz 2, Francisco 2, Arnog 1.

Scoring by quarters: 4-4, 7-9, 14-14, 24-24, 29-29 (1OT), 43-31 (2OT).

Third Game

Kunoichi 43 – Williams 12, Alegre 8, Mendoza 6, Pagarao 5, Mesa 4, Castillo 3, Joseph 3, Mettao 2.

Party Rockers 23 – Abrams 8, Lebria 6, Gozon 4, Castillo 2, Johnson 2, Ito 1.

Scoring by quarters: 13-7, 20-11, 34-15, 43-23.