Sonics, Fast-12 survive OT thrillers in U19

 The Sonics and Rollers Basketball Club’s Fast 12 advanced to the winner-take-all finals after upending separate opponents in overtime in the Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League U19 semifinals Monday night at the TSL Sports Complex in Gualo Rai.

The Sonics snuck past the Chalan Kanoa Blazers, 67-65, and set the stage for a second extra time thriller won by Fast 12 over sister team DYS Rollers, 60-56.

The championship tips off at 5:30pm on Friday at the TSL Sports Complex followed by the awards presentation. The consolation game between the Blazers and the Rollers is set for today at 4:45pm also in Gualo Rai.

The first game between the Sonics and Blazers was locked at 12-all in the first quarter, before the Sonics mustered a slim 27-26 edge at halftime.

The Sonics leaned on its deep bench throughout the match, while Brandon Aulerio kept the Blazers hot on the trail with 12 markers in the first half. Eight Sonics players chipped in during the second quarter.

Sonics’ Melvin Cadiang connected with a couple of 3-pointers at the start of the third quarter as his team managed a 42-38 spread heading into the fourth period. Aulerio added eight more points to keep the Blazers in the chase.

The Sonics keyed on Aulerio at crunch time, but he still managed five free throws for seven points to go with six in support from Patrick Torres as the Blazers tied the game to force overtime.

J.P. Villanueva provided five big points late in the quarter for the Sonics.

The Sonics then held Aulerio to just four points in overtime and Jimmy Tudela canned a pair of clutch free throws to secure the win.

Cadiang led the Sonics with 17 points, while Aulerio finished with 29 in a heart-breaking loss for the Blazers.

In the second game, Fast 12 spread the ball well as five different players had a hand on the action for a slim 14-12 lead in the opening eight minutes.

Rollers rallied back in the second quarter to claim the lead, 31-22, at halftime. Rollers’ defense held Fast 12 to just eight points in the period as seven Rollers players provided points on the other end.

Fast 12 trimmed its deficit to two possession, 34-40, in the third quarter. Rainier DLGuerrero delivered six points for Fast 12 in the canto

Fast 12 kept its defensive strategy and contained its rivals to just eight points in the clutch as they knotted up the score at 48-all at the end of regulation.

Fast 12’s Rodney Sacramento was flying all over the court disrupting Rollers’ ball handlers.

Fast 12 carried the momentum with them into overtime as Jomar Danas came out with six big points to go with a pair of timely 3-pointers by his teammates.

The Rollers duo of John Darag and John Cenir outscored Danas and Sacramento, 27-26, but the latter were picked up by bench support.

First Game

Sonics 67 – Cadiang 17, Je. Villanueva 12, Caro 9, Tudela 7, De Guzman 6, Alegre 6, Salem 5, Sula 2, J. Villanueva 2, Palacios 1.

CK Blazers 65 – Aulerio 29, Torres 14, Eughbanks 7, Sablan 7, DLGuerrero 4, Basa 2, Camacho 2.

Scoring by quarters: 12-12, 27-26, 42-38, 55-55, 67-65 (OT).

Second Game

RBC Fast 12 60 – Danas 14, Sacramento 12, Metran 10, Vertudez 9, DLGuerrero 8, Ano 4, Rabauliman 3.

DYS Rollers 56 – Darag 14, Dela Rosa 13, Cenir 10, Francisco 6, Norita 6, DLGuerrero 4, Kwon 4.

Scoring by quarters: 14-12, 22-31, 40-34, 48-48, 60-56 (OT).