Stars, G-I rule NYBA tourney

The Capitol Hill Stars and Garapan Rollers I put up impressive performances throughout the past week and put an exclamation mark at the end of their respective campaigns by taking the championship of their divisions in the 2005 Northern Youth Basketball Association Tournament Sunday at the Garapan Basketball Court.

G-Rollers I matched their younger sister-team’s push by winning the G-Rollers family’s second title of the day with a 58-27 victory over the Matansa Sparks.

The G-I was gunning from the start and leaned on a solid effort by Don Teregeyo to take the early lead. Teregeyo was well focused throughout the first half and drilled eight points, while the G-Rollers played well on defense to close at the break with a 12-point cushion, 29-17.

Guard Ed Camacho had several shining moments for the Sparks as he knocked in two field goals and a free throw in hopes of keeping his team close.

Unfortunately for the Sparks, the G-I crew was just getting started as they kicked into higher gear and broke away in the second half. Teregeyo swooshed five early points and Jericho Cruz took over for 10 points as the G-Rollers lit up the scoreboard for 29 points.

Coach Jose Tumaquip was also pleased with his team’s effort on defense as the G-crew limited the Sparks to just 10 points for the 31-point victory margin.

Cruz and Teregeyo led the G-Rollers with 14 and 13 points while Juan Ogarto paced the Sparks with 10 points.

Excitement on court hit another level as the older Division III cagers took center stage.

The Stars and the G-Rollers II lived up to expectation and gave the fans something to remember them by putting on a show that lasted until the final seconds, with the Stars surviving for a 79-78 victory.

Determined to give their G-crew family a championship sweep, the G-II boys opened with a bang and quickly grabbed control of the bout. Vince Teregeyo got their run going with a bucket and a long-range connection. Joemar Tumaquip heated the net for eight points and Anirut Tebuteb drilled three baskets to spearhead a well-balanced attack that shocked the Stars for a 33-26 halftime lead.

Making it worse was that Stars standout Dan Barcinas was whistled for four fouls in the first half.

With Barcinas in foul trouble, coach Ambrose Ogumoro had no choice but to sit his star player on the bench for the start of the second half.

The G-Rollers continued to work relentlessly on both ends of the court and padded their lead to as much as 13 points.

Barcinas made a return midway through the half, and slowly fueled a comeback that turned the game around.

Kovin Ogumoro and J.D. Dikito nailed consecutive 3-pointers, and William Kaipat was good for nine points, and Barcinas connected for seven points to help the Stars turn their deficit into a seven-point lead.

The lead was quickly erased as rising star Kevin Aldan stepped up for G-II and nailed a couple of bombs and a free throw. Barcinas continued to weave his magic at the other end, to help the Stars hold on, and Teregeyo came through with a huge three-pointer from the corner to pull G-II to within a point before the game was over.

Barcinas led the Stars with 21 points while Kaipat and Ogumoro added 20 and14 points.

Aldan and Tumaquip led G-II with 19 and 17 points while Teregeyo and John Ada added 12 and 11 points.

As reported earlier, the G-Rollers won Division I.

DIVISION II

G-Rollers I 58 – Cruz 14, Teregeyo 13, Mateo 7, Basilla 6, Catalla 4, Jones 4, Tellei 4, Moses 3, Agbanlog 2, Iguel 1.

Sparks 27 – Ogarto 10, E. Camacho 7, Iguel 4, Babauta 3, Igitol 2, G. Camacho 1.

Scoring by halves: 29-17, 58-27.

Referees: Ambrose Ogumoro and Elias Rangamar.

DIVISION III

Stars 79 – D. Barcinas 21, W. Kaipat 20, Ogumoro 14, Dikito 8, A. Barcinas 6, Ruluked 6, Santos 4.

G-Rollers II 78 – Aldan 19, Tumaquip 17, Teregeyo 12, Ada 11, Devero 9, Tebuteb 6, Naraja 2, Chariton 2.

Scoring by halves: 26-33, 79-78.

Referees: Patrinus Mario and Gilbert Espinosa.