Shane’s buzzer-beater delivers title to AK-Toyota

Atkins Kroll sales manager Kevin Barnes holds the championship trophy surrounded by AK-Toyota players and Mariana Islands Basketball League officials after the finals of the Inaugural IT&E MIBL Fantasy Draft Tournament last Friday at the Agape Gymnasium. (MARK RABAGO)

Shane Deleon Guerrero’s basket with no time remaining averted a monumental collapse by AK-Toyota as they beat IT&E, 73-72, in an epic winner-take all championship in the Inaugural IT&E MIBL Fantasy Draft Tournament last Friday at the Agape Gymnasium.

The CNMI national player’s bank shot from about 6 feet away was an answered prayer for AK-Toyota coach Dennis Cortez as moments before Rodel Pastrana gave IT&E an improbable 72-71 lead on two free throws with 4.8 seconds left in the ballgame.

Pastrana’s two charities capped a 15-3 rally by IT&E just when everyone thought AK-Toyota was zooming toward the championship. 

AK-Toyota’s 10-point advantage came on the heels of IT&E’s own run that gave them a 58-57 lead on a 3-pointer by ageless Ed Diaz with time down to 5:42. 

The game appeared to be out of IT&E’s reach, however, moments later when AK-Toyota went on the aforementioned scoring tear capped by a Raymond Velasco free throw that made it 68-58 with 2:34 remaining. 

Back-to-back triples by Kelvin Fitial and Diaz and a fastbreak layup by Airson Atan off a steal by the highflyer made it 68-66.

A free throw off a loose ball foul on AK-Toyota’s Frank Ferrer stopped the bleeding somewhat and made it 69-66 with 1:09 left. 

AK-Toyota would turn the ball over in the next play and Pastrana made it a 1-point contest with an under-goal stab with 43 seconds left.

An AK-Toyota player would step out of bounds with 39 seconds left and IT&E capitalized on the miscue when Pastrana was fouled and went 2-for-2 to give IT&E a 70-69 lead.

Velasco then came to the rescue of AK-Toyota when he rebounded a miss and hit a sweet bank shot to give them back the lead, 71-70, with 10 seconds remaining. 

Both teams would then exchange turnovers before Pastrana was fouled again and made both free throws to shove IT&E back in the lead. 

What ensued was Deleon Guerrero’s buzzer-beater that had everyone in the AK-Toyota bench rise up and mob the athletic wingman.

“In my head, I just needed to get the ball and score for my team. It was all my mentality…I’m just happy… happy as we came a long way…we’re the only undefeated team…” said Deleon Guerrero moments after his memorable shot, which was the 26-year-old’s first game-winner in a championship match.

For his part, Cortez said while his team almost lost composure in the end, they were fortunate to get the last possession and luckily Deleon Guerrero made the winning shot.

“I just told them to play hard and play as a team when they were rattled when IT&E made back-to-back 3-pointers in a span of 4 seconds…”

On the last play after Pastrana’s two free throws gave IT&E the lead, Cortez instructed his players to give Deleon Guerrero a pick and make him go all the way.

He then thanked all his players, sponsor AK-Toyota, Agape Christian School, and Mariana Islands Basketball League for organizing the tourney. 

AK-Toyota was in control for the majority of the game, leading 22-14 after the first quarter and 36-28 at the half. They still had a comfortable 51-44 spread heading into the payoff period before all hell broke loose in the fourth. 

Deleon Guerrero top-scored for the champions with 20 points, while Ferrer, Juan Camacho, and Velasco also finished in double figures.

Pastrana fired a game-high 22 points in the heart-breaking loss, while Atan, Fitial, and Diaz pumped in 12 points or more for IT&E.

AK-Toyota 73 – Deleon Guerrero 20, Ferrer 18, Camacho 10, Velasco 10, Guntar 8, Lilies 7.
IT&E 72 – Pastrana 22, Atan 14, Fitial 12, Diaz 12, Capalad 6, Basa 6.
Scoring by quarters: 22-14, 36-28, 51-44, 73-72.