MHS fires 17 triples in rout of MBA

Michael Espinosa fired six of Marianas High School’s 17 3-pointers and the Dolphins rolled past the Marianas Baptist Academy Stormz, 90-49, in their final elimination round assignment in last Wednesday’s game in the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Boys Basketball League at the MHS Gymnasium.

Saipan International School teammates Christopher Cepeda, left, and Andrew Johnson, right, try to prevent Kagman High School’s Michael Muna from scoring in their game last Wednesday in the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Boys basketball league.
(Jon Perez)

Espinosa, held scoreless in the first quarter where MHS pulled away, finished with 26 points with the bulk of his offensive output coming in the second half where the only thing that needed to be settled was the final tally.

Prince Factor added 17 points, while Karlo De Leon and Irvyn Malonzo scored 15 and 14 each also for the Dolphins, who completed a 12-game sweep of the eliminations. Mikell Arciaga finished with 10.

Kong Seong Ryoo led MBA with 27 points, while Jong Young Rin chipped in 10.

In the second game, Kagman High School overcame a slow start before cruising to a 66-29 decision over Saipan International School.

Andrew Palino scored 9 straight points in Kagman’s 13-0 run to break a 4-4 tie and erect a 17-4 spread midway in the first period.

SIS, behind back-to-back 3-pointers by Andrew Johnson and Christopher Cepeda, answered with a closing 12-2 exchange to trail by 3, 19-16, after 10 minutes of play.

The Ayuyus, however, proved to be too much for the Geckos, pulling away in the second quarter and was never threatened after that.

Michael Muna paced Kagman with 22 points, while Paulino finished with 16.

Johnson was the lone Gecko to break into twin digits with 13, while Cepeda tallied 9 markers.

Earlier, Edilberto Javier Jr. poured in 21 points as Saipan Southern High School pulled off an 88-74 triumph against Grace Christian Academy.

Mi’i Tekopua added 14, while Jethro Cruz and Joseph Taitano ended up with 13 and 12 markers also for Southern, which remain in second place with an 8-3 slate behind defending champion MHS’ clean 12-0 slate.

Lee Dong Ha scored a game-high 30 points for GCA, while William Hinson contributed 18 and Hong Jun Ho finished with 10.

First Game
SSHS 88 – Javier 21, Tekopua 14, Cruz 13, Taitano 12, Rivera 8, Bondoc 6, Deleon Guerrero 6, Kintaro 6, Esmundo 2.

GCA 74 – Lee 30, Hinson 18, Hong 10, Libut 6, Trinidad 3.

Scoring by quarters: 22-15, 36-36, 68-59, 88-74.

Second Game
KHS 66 – Muna 22, Paulino 16, Evangelista 8, Arceo 6, Jones 6, Lizama 5, Racadio 3.

SIS 29 – Johnson 13, C. Cepeda 9, H.H. Kim 4, Y.K. Kim 3.

Scoring by quarters: 19-16, 40-19, 50-23, 66-29.

Third Game
MHS 90 – Espinosa 26, Factor 17, De Leon 15, Malonzo 14, Arciaga 10, Benavente 6, Manalili 2.

MBA 49 – Kong 27, Jong 10, Manglona 8, W.J. Kim 2, Song 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-5, 46-23, 74-34, 90-49.