Settsu routs MHS Blue in finale

Settsu Red Impulse clinched the championship in the girls division of the 2015 Settsu-Saipan Friendship Basketball Tournament after dominating Marianas High School Blue in the winner-take-all finale, 44-27, last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Settsu Red Impulse’s Miyu Ohara drives against MHS Blue’s Negahr Rastguiy, right, and Dianne Pablo during the second half of their title game in the Settsu-Saipan caging last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Settsu made up for its lack of manpower with decent shooting to cruise to the title win. The visiting squad from Japan played in the entire tournament with only six players and managed to survive the six-team competition after drawing a good game from Ayumi Nakano, Miyu Ohara, and Karen Morishita in the finals.

The trio scored in double figures with Nakano and Ohara firing 13 apiece and Morishita adding 13. Hashimoto and Maike, who chipped in 5 and 2, respectively, completed Settsu’s box score. Risa Hirayama rounded out the visiting team’s roster.

Nakano kicked things off for Settsu, drilling 8 of the team’s first 12 points. Ohara finished what Nakano started, hitting 9 points, while Morishita also helped out Settsu’s cause in the first half, contributing 8, as team zoomed to an 18-point advantage at the break, 28-10.

MHS Blue fell behind early and played catch up all night, as only Julie Reyes converted more than one field goal for the Lady Dolphins in the first half. Reyes scored the team’s last 4 points, while Friendly Joy Pena, Diane Pablo, and Kyla Ito were held to one basket apiece.

The Lady Dolphins continued to struggle offensively in the second half, while Settsu kept finding its target to protect the double-digit spread en route to the easy win.

No MHS Blue player broke into double figures in its 17-point loss to Settsu, as the highest scorer on the Lady Dolphins—Negahr Rastguiy, logged only 9 markers. Pena and Reyes chipped in 6 each, while Ito, Pablo, and Mikayla Lopez were limited to 2 markers each.

Settsu’s title win against MHS Blue was a big leap from the former’s finish in last year’s competition. The Japanese squad placed only third behind champion Notre Dame of Guam and runner-up MISO All-Stars. Incidentally, Settsu also beat MHS in last year’s battle for third place, 77-43.

Joining Settsu and MHS Blue in this year’s girls contest were Mt. Carmel School, Kagman High School, MHS Yellow, and Saipan Southern High School.

Meanwhile, results of the men’s division finals between MHS Blue and Settsu will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Tuesday edition.

Settsu 44 – Nakano 13, Ohara 13, Morishita 11, Hashimoto 5, Maike 2.

MHS Blue 27 – Rastguiy 9, Pena 6, Reyes 6, Ito 2, Pablo 2.

Scoring by halves: 28-10, 44-27.