Young guns fire up Uncle Ben, MBI

MBI and Uncle Ben leaned on their young players to thwart separate opponents in the 2008 Navy Hill Friendship Basketball League Monday night at the Garapan Basketball Court.

MBI drew crucial points from Jayvan Tarkong and Marvin Rabauliman in the fourth period to edge Athlete’s Foot, 74-66, in the second game of the night. Tarkong and Rabauliman are members of the CNMI Junior National Team.

Meanwhile, their teammate on the Junior Nationals—Jericho Cruz—exploded for 34 points to lift Uncle Ben to a 73-66 triumph against Inscape in the first game

Uncle Ben entered the fourth period behind by three, 50-53, when Cruz teamed up with Badong Camacho, Mike Umali, and Boyet Carino in stealing the win from Inscape.

Cruz made seven markers in the fourth period, Camacho chipped in six, while Umali and Carino added four apiece.

Inscape was held to only four field goals in the fourth period to lose the lead and the game. It absorbed its third defeat in four games.

Uncle Ben improved to a 2-1 record.

In the second game, Tarkong and Rabauliman drilled six points apiece in the fourth period to give MBI its third victory in five games.

MBI led by only two points, 51-49, after the third period. In the fourth quarter, MBI’s young guns outlasted the veterans of Athlete’s Foot with Tarkong and Rabauliman canning important baskets.

Tarkong and Rabauliman combined for 27 points. Another youth player—Dan Mateo—helped MBI’s cause adding 14 points. Ernie Moises top-scored for MBI with 16 markers, making four in the final canto.

Moises fired two triples in the first period, while Dan had one from downtown to lift MBI to an 18-13 lead.

Arreza came off the bench and scored eight points in the second period allowing Athlete’s Foot to grab the upperhand, 34-33.

Moises and Dan regained their shooting touch in the third and combined for 15 of MBI’s 20 points in that quarter to reclaim the lead, 51-49.

Tarkong and Rabauliman picked up where Moises and Dan left of in the fourth period to preserve the victory.

Arreza paced Athlete’s Foot with 14 points, while Elmer Esdrelon contributed 13. Junar Guiab finished with 12, while Nate Mateo scored 10.
[B] First Game[/B] [B] Uncle Ben 73[/B] – Cruz 34, Camacho 12, Aquino 6, Carino 6, Lizama 4, Umali 4, Bungahus 3, Tumaquip 2, Than 2.
[B] Inscape 67[/B] – Peredo 17, Ranola 14, Mendoza 12, Mendiola 7, De Dios 6, Paje 4, Rebuyon 4, Olivos 2.

MBI 74[/B] – Moises 16, Rabauliman 15, Mateo 14, Tarkong 12, Barrios 9, Opone 5, Garcia 3.
[B] Athlete’s Foot 66[/B] – Arreza 14, Esdrelon 13, Guiab 12, N. Mateo 10, Fernandez 6, Tamondong 4, A. Mateo 4, Ong 2, Joyner 1.