Blue Marlins splash to 1st win in co-ed hoops

Defending champions Kagman Elementary School Blue Marlins splashed to their first win of the 2024-2025 IT&E Interscholastic Co-ed Elementary School Basketball League season opener on a busy day of sports last Saturday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

In dominant fashion, they wrangled with the Mount Carmel School Knights and overpowered them, 31-5.

The Knights were no match for the much faster and more well-versed players of Kagman, as the Blue Marlins started the game strong and ended it masterfully. The Blue Marlins were locked in on the basket and made shot after shot in the first half, and controlled the ball and possession.

Kagman’s Tristen Carino began the first half with 9 points, while Ishmael Bhuiyan wrapped it up with 6 consecutive markers. Chance Reyes contributed 2.

Meanwhile, all the Knights could do was make attempts at the basket, but they could not convert as the Blue Marlins’ defense didn’t allow them to fully capitalize on any chance they got. Only Scott Muna landed an open shot from 3-point territory to get them on the board. However, that was all their offense could do as they ended the first half, 3-17.

The second half saw Kagman explode as the Knights could not get the handle on the ball and caused multiple turnovers. The Blue Marlins only capitalized from there and didn’t give the Knights a chance at the basket until Muna scored their last 2 points of the game to make it 5-31.

The Blue Marlins consisted of Jaydon Aguon, Tristen Carino, Dominic Chipwelong, Basil Faisao, Chance Reyes, Benz Santos, Logan Palacios, Bear Murphy, Ishmael Bhuiyan, Aureya Saralu, Harley Murphy, Sarah Aguon, and Desmory Dela Cruz.

The Knights included Isaiah Villagomez, Rockson Cabrera, Thomas Flores, Brian Reyes, Jake Maratita, Scott Muna, Jace Pangelinan, Khoen Torres, Ezekiel Villagomez, Lucas Wu, Young Woo Choi, Aycee Quitugua, Jamara Cabrera, and Ava Basa.

In other results that day, Koblerville Elementary School Umangs defeated Saipan International School Geckos 1, 42-12; Garapan Elementary School Mallards 2 flew by San Vicente Elementary School Canaries, 20-2; SIS 1 blanked Grace Christian Academy Eagles, 18-0; William S. Reyes Elementary School Kingfishers swooped past GCA, 20-10; Oleai Elementary School Turtles ran past Brilliant Star School, 18-2; WSR 1 took down SVES 2, 18-0; KobES 2 silenced Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School Binadus, 30-0; and OES slipped past SIS 2, 18-16.

The next game is next Saturday, Nov. 16; Saturday, Nov. 23; and Monday, Dec. 2. The championship round is set for Dec. 5-7.

KagES 31 – Carino 13, Bhuiyan 10, Aguon 4, Reyes 2, Faisao 2.

MCS 5 – Muna 5.

Scoring by halves: 17-3, 31-5.