Manny Matagolai lifts Rollers I past G-Stars

The Rollers I snapped the G-Stars’ four-game winning run in the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League, recording a 67-60 victory Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Manny Matagolai erupted for 31 points, starting the Rollers I’s rally in the closing minutes of the first half en route to lifting his team to a seven-point win.

The victory was the Rollers I’s third in a row and fourth in seven games putting them in a tie for third place with the G-Stars.

The Rollers I was closing out its regular season assignment last night, battling the Chalan Kanoa Saints. The G-Stars will play the CNMI Junior Nationals tomorrow for their last game in the round-robin regular season.

The G-Stars had a strong chance of extending their winning streak to five as they led by as much as 12 points in the first half, 31-19.

But the Rollers I had a big 20-3 windup in the last five minutes of the second half to grab the driver’s seat. The team then hanged in there in the second half to preserve the win.

Matagolai anchored the Rollers I’s comeback in the closing minutes of the first half. He nailed 12 points in the Rollers I’s rally to put his team in the lead at halftime, 39-24.

The G-Stars’ three points came from a field goal and a free throw from Nate Mateo.

Matagolai was silent in the opening minutes of the second half but again went back to work in the crucial stage of the match, making the Rollers I’s last seven points.

Nate Mateo continued to pile up points in the second half, but he had only twin brother—Dan—helping him out on offense.

In contrast, the Rollers I hardly felt Matagolai’s sluggish start in the second half, as Albert Camacho, J.R. Concepcion, Rainier Deleon Guerrero, and Jomar Danas stepped up to keep their team afloat.

Danas contributed nine points, while Camacho made all his six points in the second half. Concepcion and Deleon Guerrero combined for eight points.

Nate Mateo finished with 28 points, while Dan added 22. The rest of the G-Stars players combined for only nine points.

Besides Matagolai, seven Rollers I players made it into the scoreboard and tallied a combined 36 points.

The Rotary caging will conclude its regular season tomorrow and will start the playoffs on Monday.

The playoff round will have a single-elimination format with only the Top 8 teams advancing to the next round.

The playoff cast is already complete and the last two games in the regular season will determine the playoff pairings and the pennant winner.

Unbeaten teams—the CNMI Junior Nationals and the San Antonio Sixers—will duel for the pennant today.

Joining them in the playoffs are the G-Stars, Suns, Saints, Kontenders, Rollers I, and the Southern Sonics.

The first round of the playoffs will have the No. 1 team battling the No. 8 squad, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5.

Rollers I 67 – Matagolai 31, Danas 9, A. Camacho 6, Deleon Guerrero 5, Paez 3, Concepcion 3, E. Camacho 2.

G-Stars 60 – N. Mateo 28, D. Mateo 22, Rangamar 4, D. Palacios 2, Kenty 2, Jung 1.

Scoring by halves: 39-34, 67-60.

Referees: Gilbert Espinosa and Eric Artillaga.