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Three-way tie atop MISA boys cage league
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Posted on Feb 28 2006
The Saipan Southern High School Manta Rays recovered from a slow start and closed with a bang to beat the Marianas High School Dolphins, 57-47, Monday night in the 2006 MISA High School Basketball League at the MHS Gymnasium.
With the win, the Mantas forced a three-way tie atop the boys standings as the team, as well as the Dolphins, and defending champion Mt. Carmel School Knights sit with 2-1 win-loss cards. Rounding off the cast is Kagman High School, which has a 0-3 record.
The Mantas struggled in the opening quarter as the team was held to just three field goals, while allowing the Dolphins to hit two triples and take a 15-6 lead.
The easy road didn’t last long for the Dolphins as coach Joe Punzalan’s Saipan Southern crew improved their game and turned things around. Jack Lizama and Bill Babauta spearheaded the team’s turnaround, combing for 12 points, while the Mantas’ defense held the Dolphins to seven points. By halftime, Saipan Southern was up by three points, 25-22.
The two teams matched each other well in the third period, but it was Marianas High that had the better performance, as the team was able to close to within a point, 36-37, before the start of the payoff period.
Determined to be the first to hand the Dolphins a loss, the Mantas went berserk and took their game to another level. Babauta, Lizama, and Jason Bahillo hit crucial baskets and took credit for all but three of the team’s 20 points to lead the team to the win.
Joemar Tumaquip tried to keep the Dolphins close with seven markers, but his effort came to no avail, as the Mantas were able to handle the pressure for the win.
Lizama and Babauta led the Mantas with 18 and 12 pointsm while Tumaquip paced the Dolphins with 12 points.
SSHS 57 – Lizama 18, Babauta 12, Eclevia 9, Ja. Bahillo 8, Duenas 4, Basa 2, Dela Cruz 2, Palacios 2.
MHS 47 – Tumaquip 12, N. Mateo 9, Omar 6, Magday 6, Tarkong 5, Borja 4, Phillip 3, Pangelinan 2.
Scoring by quarters: 6-15, 25-22, 37-36, 57-47.
Referees: Jess Pacheco and Eric Artillaga.
