MHS Varsity beats SSHS; Agape moves up

Marianas High School Junior Varsity and Kagman High School 3 players watch the ball go to the baseline during the second half of their game in the 2019-2020 Public School System Interscholastic Boys High School Basketball League last Tuesday at the MHS Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Marianas High School Varsity outclassed Saipan Southern High School, 30-26, while Agape Christian School cruised past MHS 3, 25-11, in the 2019-2020 Public School System Interscholastic Boys High School Basketball League last Tuesday at the MHS Gymnasium.

MHS Varsity improved its record to 6-4 for solo fifth place in the team standings, while Agape jumped to third with its 7-2 mark, matching Saipan Southern’s rankings.

Christian Bravo top-scored in MHS Varsity’s sixth win after posting 13 points, while Bryan Bernardo and Oldie Roligat combined for 10. Erwin Villlarin had 10 points to lead the Manta Rays

The MHS-Saipan Southern duel was a close match with the Dolphins clinging to a 14-12 lead after the first half. MHS Varsity preserved its slim lead and took the win, thanks to Bravo, who made 9 of his total points in the second half.

In the Agape-MHS 3 tiff, the Torchbearers led from start to finish, as they had seven players hitting the board compared to only three from their opponent.

In other results last Tuesday, MHS JV also notched a double-digit winning margin over Kagman High School 3, 34-17.

John Rizo paced MHS JV with his 10 markers, while J.D. Caruana and Jocas Barrera teamed for 16 points.

MHS JV got only its second win in nine games, but the victory boosted the team’s playoff chances.

The Top 10 squads after the elimination round of the 12-team field will advance to the playoffs that will take place on March 13 and 14. The last set of matches in the elims was played yesterday and results were unavailable at press time.

Eight teams have already secured playoff berths, leaving KHS 3, MHS JV, and Mt. Carmel 2 to battle for the remaining tickets. The eight earlier playoff qualifiers—MCS Varsity, KHS JV, Agape, SSHS, Saipan International School, MHS Varsity, KHS Varsity, MHS 3—were scheduled to play yesterday to determine their final rankings in the regular season and seeding in the double-elimination playoff round.

First Game
Agape 25—S. Xu 9, T. Xu 6, E. Tang 3, Zhang 2, Bao 2, He 2, Jin 1.
MHS 3 11—Lukas 4, Francisco 4, Richards 2.
Scoring by halves: 12-7, 25-11.

Second Game
MHS Varsity 30—Bravo 13, Bernardo 6, Roligat 4, Sacramento 3, Soriano 2, Galang 2.
SSHS 26—Villarin 10, Contreras 6, Deleon Guerrero 4, Atalig 4, Laniyo 2.
Scoring by halves: 14-12, 30-26.

Third Game
MHS JV 34—Rizo 10, Caruana 9, Barrera 7, Navarro 2, Singa 2, Viana 2, Kaipat 2.
KHS 3 17—Aldan 7, Willy 6, Adelbai 2, Hocog 2.
Scoring by halves: 16-8, 34-17.