Settsu nips MHS Blue in finale

Settsu Red Impulse completed its double victory in the 2015 Settsu-Saipan Friendship Basketball Tournament after escaping with a 51-50 win against Marianas High School Blue in their boys title match last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Settsu Red Impulse’s Tomohiro Ishikawa escapes for a fastbreak layup as Marianas High School Blue’s Michael Espinosa came in late for transition defense during the first half of their title game in the Settsu-Saipan caging last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
(Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Tomohiro Ishikawa made the dagger, hitting a pair of pressure-packed free throws in the closing seconds to give Settsu its second championship in the same tournament this year. Earlier, the visiting squad’s female players whipped MHS Blue, 44-27, in their own championship showdown last weekend.

Ishikawa canned the two important charities after he made a big defensive stop, stealing possession from Irvin Malonzo, who was forced to give up a preemptive foul with the former on the way for a breakaway layup.

After Ishikawa drilled the two free shots, MHS Blue still had time and opportunities to score, but failed to nail the go-ahead basket to have another bridesmaid finish in the annual tournament. Last year, MHS also lost to the MISO All-Stars by a hair, 68-69.

Ishikawa top-scored for Settsu with his 20 points, while two other players from the visiting squad also earned double figures. Tatsumi Yamashita chipped in 12, while Taiki Kondo contributed 11.

Michael Espinosa led MHS Blue’s losing cause with his 19 points, while Prince Factor added 13.

Factor and Espino alternately carried MHS Blue to their shoulders in the first half, while Ishikawa anchored Settsu and drew help from Yamashita and Kondo to take a precarious 30-25 halftime edge.

The game remained tight in the second half and there was a seesaw battle in the closing minutes with MHS Blue holding the lead for the last time after Kobee Mendoza split his charities, 50-49. However, the Dolphins failed to hang on to the shaky lead as they turned the ball over in the ensuing play and Ishikawa countered with his back-breaking free throws.

Settsu advanced to the finals after waltzing past Kagman High School, 32-20, in the semifinal match that was played the same day.

Yamashita lifted Settsu to the semis victory after tallying 10 markers, while four of his teammates chipped in at least 6 markers apiece en route to the double-digit victory. Kagman had a lackluster performance on offense in its semis showdown with Settsu with no Ayuyus player scoring more than 4 points.

In the other semis pairing, MHS Blue eliminated Saipan Southern High School, 39-30. Espinosa also top-scored in the Dolphins triumph over the Manta Rays, registering 11.

Settsu 51 – Ishikawa 20, Yamashita 12, Kondo 11, Kinumura 6, Eguchi 2.

MHS Blue 50 – Espinosa 19, Factor 13, Arciaga 7, De Leon 6, Borja 2, Ong 2, Mendoza 1.

Scoring by quarters: 30-25, 51-50.