GMI Market enters U18 finals

GMI Market had to withstand a gallant stand from the Sonics to eke out a 99-93 overtime win and notch the first finals berth in the U18 division of the 2015 San Antonio Community Action Network Basketball League last Sunday night at the San Antonio court.

GMI Market’s Ignacio Borja pulls up for a short jumper against the Sonics’ Jun Fidelino during overtime of their semis game in the U18 division of the San Antonio caging last Sunday at the San Antonio court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Sonics nearly pulled the rug under the highly favored GMI Market before Djay Ong, Ignacio Borja, and Jethro Cruz saved their team from a disastrous loss. Ong sent the game into overtime, while Borja and Cruz scored all of GMI Market’s points in the extension.

Ong knocked in a pair of pressure-packed free throws in the last 15 seconds of regulation off a foul from Jun Fidelino to force the deadlock, 85-all. The Sonics, who started the fourth period behind by 5, 58-63 before managing to grab the lead in the last two minutes, attempted the last shot in the fourth quarter, but Bryan Esmundo muffed the potential game-winner.

In overtime, GMI Market was in control in the opening minutes with Cruz drilling the team’s first 7 points and Borja adding two straight baskets. However, the Sonics refused to give up and remained in contention as it was down by only 5, 91-96, with still 48 seconds remaining in the extra period and the team having possession after a Greg Sablan error at the backcourt.

The Sonics sued for time to orchestrate a crucial play, but took several seconds before pulling up for a shot with Art Borromeo missing inside, while GMI Market got the defensive rebound and Borja got a preemptive foul from Fidelino. Borja split his charities, while Bryan De Guzman scored on a drive to keep the Sonics in the game, 93-97, down to the last 14.5 seconds in the game.

The Sonics tried to give up another foul to stop the clock, but GMI Market wisely avoided contact with their opponents before France Muna finally held on to Cruz. The lefty GMI Market shooting guard made both free throws to seal the finals berth for his team, while the Sonics again took some time before pulling up for a shot with Fidelino unloading a triple and missing his attempt as time expired.

GMI Market will meet in the one-game finals the winner in the other semis pairing between Judy’s Hot Boys and Ferrera Builders. The second Final Four tiff was played late Sunday night and results will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Wednesday issue.

GMI Market had to work extra hard to make it to the championship match, as the Sonics kept up with the top-ranked squad right from the opening buzzer. GMI Market was ahead by only a hair at the end of the first period, 17-16, and still held a shaky lead at halftime, 40-39, with the Sonics getting contributions from every player they fielded in the game.

At the start of the second half, GMI Market managed to gain some cushion with Ong scoring 7 points in the third period. However, the Sonics kept fighting back in the final canto and managed to wrestle the driver’s seat behind the 9 fourth-quarter points of Borromeo, whose last basket gave his team a one-point lead, while a split from Martin Sablan made it a 2-point advantage.

With the Sonics threatening to hand GMI Market its first loss in the inaugural league and nail the first finals seat, Ong felt the sense of urgency and drove strong to the basket, missing the shot, but getting a foul from Fidelino. After Ong’s pair of charities in the closing seconds of regulation, Cruz and Borja took over in overtime to foil the Sonics’ upset bid.

o GMI Market 99 – Cruz 26, Ong 23, Borja 23, Kintaro 7, Alipio 5, M. Sablan 5, G. Sablan 4, Snech 3, Santos 2, Atalig 1.

Sonics 93 – Borromeo 20, Muna 12, Diyco 11, Fidelino 10, Esmundo 10, De Guzman 9, Salalila 8, Espinosa 6, Bautista 5.

Scoring by quarters: 17-16, 40-39, 63-58, 85-85, 99-93 (OT).