Shots Fired upsets Team Nesian Built in 3×3 tourney

Team Shots Fired released shot after shot to make a comeback and stun two-time defending 3×3 champions Team Nesian Built to win the NMIBF Marianas Arsenal 3×3 Basketball Series for January.

Youth trumped experience this time around as the U16 team of young up-and-coming ballers—Jezpher Navarro, Christian Lucero, and Austin Diaz—pulled an upset against veteran Team Nesian Built’s Coby Santos, Douglas Schmidt, Preston Basa, and Jack Lizama, 21-19, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium last Saturday.

Team Nesian Built had the upper hand with a more than 5-point lead five minutes into the game, but the tenacity of Shots Fired allowed them to chip away at that lead come crunch time.

Back-to-back shots by Lucero allowed them to tie the game up, 17-17, with a little over a minute left. Team Nesian Built tried to add to their lead and managed to put just 2 more points, 19-17, while Shots Fired continued to hack away at the net.

A missed shot by Lucero was tipped in by a waiting Diaz to get by 1 point of Team Nesian Built, 19-18. It was still Shots Fired possession after a missed attempt by Basa and they didn’t waste it as Navarro sunk the game-leading shot, 20-19, with 50 seconds left.

It was over as Navarro shot another Hail Mary to win, 21-19, after more missed opportunities by Team Nesian Built gave the advantage to the win-hungry U16 team.

Fifteen-year-old Navarro said after the game that they joined this purely for experience, as they are too young to represent NMI for the FIBA Asia 3×3 Cup in Singapore this year.

The Saipan Southern High School student, after they beat the defending champs, said “it was very surprising. I know that there’s a lot of competition and we just want to experience it and see what happens.”

The strategy, Navarro said, was to just “shoot and shoot. Whenever we get the ball, just shoot and let it fly.” Coming from behind with a more than 5-point deficit at one point, Navarro said, “We had a negative mindset but then as we played, we picked it up and we got the victory.”

Even if they aren’t eligible for the FIBA Asia Cup, Navarro said their team will be back again to play in the next tournament.

The last two 3×3 series in November and December were won by Team Nesian Built.

Team Nesian Built still has a chance of representing NMI in the FIBA Asia 3×3 Cup in Singapore.

Currently, TNB is in the lead in the points system with 140 points; second is Net Rippers at 90; third is Hagu Real Hoops with 80; Shots Fired is at 60; La Mesa Kusina (Eats Easy) has 50; K2 Ballers, Tupu Kingz, and Team Elite are at 30 each; Toka and Team Priority Care have 20 points each; and Socho, Brawlers, 10-7, Scorgasm, Tuntunizers, and Risers are at 10 points each.

Results of the women’s 3×3 finals will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.