NMSA rallies to clinch title

Northern Marianas Sports Association members celebrate their title win after beating the Feds in overtime, 79-75, in the 2014 IT&-DYS Inter-government Basketball League last Friday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Jon Perez)

Northern Marianas Sports Association rallied back from a 9-point deficit in the fourth quarter and outlasted the Feds in overtime, 79-75, in their title match in the 2014 IT&E-DYS Inter-government Basketball League last Friday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

NMSA enjoyed a twice-to-beat advantage in the title showdown after sweeping the playoff round, including a 68-67 squeaker over the Feds on Dec. 15, to clinch the first finals berth and finished off the Feds early to win this year’s championship.

The Feds, on the other hand, needed an 84-49 crushing of Department of Community and Cultural Affairs to seal a title match with NMSA. The Frank Flores-mentored squad was then press to beat NMSA on Friday night to force a you-or-me showdown tonight and nearly got the job done before squandering a 9-point lead in the final 2:11 of the contest.

The Feds seemed headed to a knockout match when it enjoyed a 68-59 spread heading into the final two minutes of the tightly-fought match.

However, NMASA fought back behind Peter Camacho, who scored 4 of the team’s 9 points, including a pair of free throws off Ronnel Gamboa’s foul with 4.8 seconds left on the clock. The charities knotted the count at 68-all and sent the match in overtime as the Feds failed to score at the other end.

The Feds had the chance to close the match in regulation, but Camacho stole the ball away from Hae Joon Park. The NMSA enforcer could have nailed the game-winning basket but time expired as he ran toward their court.

In overtime, Ezra Caro went to work for NMSA, scoring the team’s last 6 points, including a reverse layup in the final 21 seconds of the game, 79-75. That turned out to be the final tally as the Feds failed to counter on the other end against NMSA’s tight defense.

Mike Babauta, off a Leo Apelo missed jumper, grabbed the loose ball and just ran the clock down. Jubilation erupted at the NMSA bench when the buzzer sounded.

Preston Basa top-scored for NMSA with his 22 points and buried five 3-pointers, while Camacho scattered 14 markers and had 5 rebounds. Rangamar chipped in 11 points to go with his 3 feeds, 6 boards, and 1 steal.

Caro, who helped contain Feds big man Ken McCain, tallied 10 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals. Jacoby Winkfield and Mike Babauta combined for 10 markers, 13 rebounds, and 4 steals.

Apelo paced the Feds’ losing cause with an all-around performance of 24 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and a game-high 7 steals, while Gamboa backed him up with 22 markers, 3 caroms, 3 feeds, and 1 steal.

McCain, who put the Feds within two with his basket, 77-75, 1:54 left in the final quarter, made 13 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, had 2 assists, and blocked 4 shots. Juan Camacho contributed 12 markers, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Besides the fourth-quarter meltdown, the Feds also squandered an 11-point halftime lead as it could not shake off NMSA, which always found an answer to every run the former made.

NMSA 79–Basa 22, Camacho 14, Rangamar 11, Caro 10, Jones 6, Winkfield 6, Babauta 4, Sablan 4, Fitial 2.

Feds75–Apelo 24, Gamboa 22, McCain 13, Camacho 12, Park 4.

Scoring by quarters: 18-17, 31-42, 54-53, 68-68, 79-75 (OT). (Jon Perez)