Rays sting Ayuyus in MISO caging

Saipan Southern High School overcame a slow start and used a second half scoring splurge in cruising to a 71-49 win over Kagman High School in yesterday’s final game in the 2014-2015 Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization High School Boys Basketball League at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Saipan Southern High School’s Emerson Feria, 11, tries to find an open teammate against the defense of two Kagman High School players during their game in the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization High School Boys Basketball League yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. (Jon Perez)

It was the Manta Rays’ third straight win after absorbing an 87-56 thumping at the hands of the defending champions, MHS Dolphins exactly a week ago. It was also a double victory celebration for SSHS as its junior varsity squad trounced MHS 9, 61-32, in the first game.

The Ayuyus, the champions in the 2009 and 2010 seasons, dropped to 3-2 with the loss snapping their three-game winning run.

Saipan Southern led by one after 10 minutes of play, 12-11, before slowly establishing some distance against Kagman in the second period to erect a 33-23 halftime lead.

Southern exploded for 17 points in the third quarter, while a dizzying full-court trapping defense held Kagman to only 4 points as the Mantas entered the final canto enjoying a 50-27 spread.

Southern’s suffocating defense resulted to numerous steals and in the process forced Kagman to consecutive turnovers.

Edilberto Javier Jr. and Jethro Cruz combined for 12 of Southern’s 17 points in the third quarter.

Kagman, behind Andrew Palino and Melvin Sakisat Jr., managed to make one last comeback attempt and conspired in a 10-2 exchange to trim the huge deficit to 15, 52-37, midway in the final canto.

That was the closest the Ayuyus could get as the Mantas scored again in bunches to completely bury Kagman in the match.

Gerald Flores and Tyler Palacios led SSHS’ balanced offense with 10 points apiece while Cruz, Javier and Rivera added 8 markers each.

Ryan Esmundo, Mark Ogasawara, and Jerwin Roquero combined for 18 points also for Southern.

Palino paced Kagman’s losing cause with his 20 points, while Sakisat chipped in 15 markers.

In other results, Dalton Dancoe scattered 19 points to power MHS junior varsity to a 49-28 drubbing of Kagman JV.

It was MHS JV’s second straight win in as many games, while Kagman absorbed its second loss in three matches.

Jeffrey Castro and Darion Jones finished with 9 points each for Kagman JV.

Earlier, SSHS JV banked on the combined efforts of JP Taitano, Franko Bondoc, and Emmanuel Cobacha in breezing past MHS 9.

Taitano ended up with 12 points, while Bondoc and Cobacha contributed 10 points each for the Junior Mantas, who improved to 3-0.

Adrian De Luna was the lone double-digit scorer for MHS 9 with 12 points as his team evened its record to 1-1.

First Game
SSHS JV 61–Taitano 12, Bondoc 10, Cobacha 10, Siech 8, Aque 7, Borromeo 6, Alipio 4, Ada 2, Diyco 2.

MHS 9 32–De Luna 12, Prado 7, Mendoza 4, Huliganga 3, mamril 2, Pangelinan 2, Tanghal 2.

Scoring by quarters: 12-5, 28-7, 42-23, 61-32.

Second Game
MHS JV 49–Dancoe 19, Castillo 8, Diaz 6, Deocares 5, Cudia 3, Ellama 3, Bucayo 2, Ermitanio 2, Cristobal 1.

KHS JV 28–Castro 9, Jones 9, Aguon 5, Tenorio 3, Salik 2.

Scoring by quarters: 13-6, 19-10, 34-15, 49-28.

Third Game
SSHS 71–Flores 10, Palacios 10, Cruz 8, Javier 8, Rivera 8,Esmundao 6, Ogasawara 6, Roquero 6, Feria 5, Bondoc 2, Kintaro 2.

KHS 49–Palino 20, Sakisat 15, Prado 5, Faisao 2, Lizama 2, Paran 2, Torres 2.

Scoring by quarters: 12-11, 33-23, 50-27, 71-49.