Dolphins shoot down Ayuyus

The Marianas High School Lady Dolphins were searching for a spark and found it in point guard Werlly Quitugua, who broke loose in the dying minutes of Wednesday’s MISA High School Interscholastic Basketball League battle against the Kagman High School Ayuyus to lift the Dolphins to a 42-33 victory at the MHS Gymnasium.

The Lady Dolphins celebrated but not after going through a rough start that enabled the Kagman squad to take control for the first three periods.

With the Lady Dolphins struggling to make things happen, Kagman had an easy time in the first 10 minutes of the match and held a 13-5 advantage after the first quarter.

The Lady Dolphins were held to a measly five points again in the second while the Ayuyus pumped in seven to rest at halftime with a 10-point breathing room, 20-10.

After a little pep talk from coach John Raulerson, the Lady Dolphins tried to close the gap before it got too late. They managed to inch to within eight points, 19-27, before heading to crunch time.

With their fans pouring out their support, the MHS cagebelles picked up their intensity on both ends of the floor and made it harder for Kagman to score.

They cut the lead to five points on a jumper by Malai Iakopo, 24-29, and then, it became the Quitugua show.

After being silent in the first three quarters with only two points, the former league most valuable player electrified the Dolphins fans and team bench, knocking in a big shot from beyond the three-point arc, nailing consecutive free throws, and hitting another swoosh from long distance to give the Dolphins a 32-31 lead with a little over four minutes remaining.

In a zone of her own, Quitugua would continue to torment the Ayuyus, hitting two more free throws and driving the lane twice for layups.

Quitugua finished with a game-high 16 points, while Emy Oiterong and Iakopo added nine and eight points.

Tricia Falig paced the Ayuyus with eight points, while Jessica Takai and Glarisha Mabel supported with six points apiece.

The MHS boys were also successful and completed the sweep of Kagman with an 81-76 victory over the Kagman boys.

MHS enjoyed being frontrunners in the first three periods, scoring 20 points or more in each while playing solid defense to hold a commanding 70-49 advantage.

The Dolphins, however, received strong opposition in the final 10 minutes of play as the one-two punch of Mario Patrinus and Jonathan Ada lifted the Ayuyus, who little by little, began to chip into the MHS lead.

Patrinus and Ada combined for all but four of the Ayuyus 27 points in the period, but their push came little too late as the buzzer sounded just in time for the Dolphins to leave with the eight-point win.

Christian Dela Cruz was phenomenal for the Dolphins, leading all scorers with 26 points, while Jayvan Tarkong and Seth Hocking finished with 16 and 13 points.

Patrinus and Ada sizzled for 25 and 23 points, respectively, to lead the Ayuyus.

GIRLS

MHS 42—Quitugua 16, Oiterong 9, Iakopo 6, J. Jang 4, Yang 3, Agbanlog 2, E. Jang.

KHS 33—Falig 8, Takai 6, Mabel 6, Conner 5, Guiao 3, Reiman 2, Raphael 1.

Scoring by quarters: 5-7, 10-20, 19-27, 33-44.
Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Arnold Mesa.

BOYS

MHS 81—Dela Cruz 26, Tarkong 16, Hocking 13, Jose 12, Itibus 6, Joe Tumaquip 4, Josh Tumaquip 4, Paez 2, Aldan 1.

KHS 76—Patrinus 25, Ada 23, Diaz 8, Aldan 7, George 5, Moses 4, Salas 4.

Scoring by quarters: 20-15, 41-26, 70-49, 84-76.

Referees: Ricky Itaas and Jess Pacheco.