Saipan Vegas, RT Law Rollers ease way to semis

A RT Law NMI Rollers player attempts for a basket against a Bruce Almighty defender during their regular season game in the boys U15 division of the Diaz youth caging at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. The RT Law NMI Rollers made it to the semis after beating the Marauders NMI Rollers in their playoff game last Tuesday, 50-24. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Saipan Vegas and RT Law NMI Rollers cruised to the semifinals of the boys U15 division of the 2018 Frank M. Diaz Memorial Youth League last Tuesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Saipan Vegas got a free ride to the Final Four after winning its playoff game against the Dandan Sonics via forfeiture, while the RT Law NMI Rollers pounced on sister team, Marauders NMI Rollers, in the second playoff match, 50-24, to take the third semis seat.

With RT Law NMI Rollers and Saipan Vegas in the Final Four along with outright semifinalists 670 Sonics, only one slot to the next round was left. The NSA Young Warriors dueled Bruce Almighty in the third playoff game last night and results of their match were unavailable at press time.

Erwin Villarin top-scored in the RT Law NMI Rollers’ easy win over Marauders after tallying 10 points. He may have been the only player on his squad to hit double figures, but he drew a lot of help from his teammates, as four of them chipped in at least 6 points apiece.

The RT Law NMI Rollers led right from the get-go and never looked back, as it ran a balance offense.

Next up for the RT Law NMI Rollers is Saipan Vegas, who was handed the second semis ticket as the Dandan Sonics was one man short and could not play in the curtain-raiser. Saipan Vegas and RT Law NMI Rollers will battle for the second finals seat on May 1 at 6:15pm. For the first semis match at 5pm, the 670 Sonics will face the winner in the Young Warriors-Bruce Almighty tiff. The one-game championship showdown will then take place on May 3 after the 5pm consolation match.

Meanwhile, in the boys U18 division game last Monday, Saipan Vegas Elite edged the 670 Sonics XVII in overtime, 53-50.

Albert Atan scored 6 of his 10 points in the extension period to lift Saipan Vegas Elite to the close win. He drilled the first basket—a triple—in overtime and followed it up with a 2-point field goal before splitting his charities to seal the win for his team.

Andreu Omelau posted the other field goal for Saipan Vegas Elite to also finish in double figures with his 11 markers. Richson Mungwaath had game-high 12 markers for the winning squad.

Boys U15 Game
RT Law Rollers 50 — Villarin 10, Kapwich 9, Morilla 8, Manglona 6, Tudela 6, Pangelinan 4, Cruz 4, Castro 2.
Marauders Rollers 24 — Beronio 12, Manzano 4, Laitan 3, Eugenio 3, Escota 2.
Scoring by halves: 21-9, 50-24.

Boys U19 Game
Saipan Vegas Elite 53 — Mungwaath 12, Omelau 11, Atan 10, T. Quitugua 5, Fleming 4, Deleon Guerrero 4, N. Quitugua 4, Hapdei 3.
670 Sonics XVII 50 — Linaogo 12, Cadag 9, Sabangan 8, Kim 5, Ben 5, Ejercito 3, Ibanez 3, Francisco 2, Bartolo 2, Fabros 2.
Scoring by quarters: 17-13, 30-21, 34-33, 45-45, 53-50 (OT).