Hardt Eye lasers in on Madflex champs

Hardt Eye Clinic lasered in on the championship of the Ali’i Inc./Madflex Sports Summer Youth Basketball Tour 2024 Season 1 after they beat Blue Haus, 65-63, in the finals last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The win didn’t come easy for Hardt Eye as Blue Haus was a formidable opponent that actually led in the first half. But when it came down to it, Hardt Eye star shooter Christian Lucero secured the final two free throws that sealed their win in the final seconds of play.

Lucero and Jezpher Navarro were a dynamic duo that took their team out of a double-digit hole in a breath-taking comeback in the second half. Their explosiveness with the ball, coupled with the defensive prowess of teammate Letrell Pelisamen allowed them to knot up the game in no time and erase Blue Haus’ hard-earned lead.

Blue Haus’ hefty cushion contributed by Dane Tibayan, Ibrahim Ibarola, and John Lucero in the first half quickly dwindled as Hardt Eye locked in and stormed the court in the final minutes. The trio put up back-to-back shots but were kept pace by Lucero and Navarro until Blue Haus’ lead was just a thing of the past.

In the end, Lucero put up a game-high 34 points followed by Navarro’s 24. For Blue Haus, Tibayan scored 22, while Ibarola had 18 markers, and John Lucero had 12 points.

Third place was Win Pacific Corp. after they beat J.T.M., 76-67.

In the awards ceremony after the finals, the individual awards were presented.

The Mythical 5 were Dane Tibayan as Best Point Guard; Jezpher Navarro as Best Shooting Guard; Ibrahim Ibarola as Best Center; Carl Sanchez as Best Power Forward; and Webb Alano as Best Small Forward.

The Most Valuable Player was Hardt Eye’s Christian Lucero.

The Defensive Player of the League award went to Letrell Pelisamen.

The Most Improved Player was Kyrell Caraig.

The Leadership Award went to Webb Alano and the Best Coach was Jeff Garcia.

The event organizers, headed by Dexter Tenorio, founder of Madflex, said of the season, “I can’t explain how happy I am because we accomplished what we wanted to happen in the basketball tournament for the youth.”

The highlights of the tournament for him were not the games themselves, “but seeing the children happy and united, seeing the parents watching their children in the sport they love, [and] seeing the support of each other—that’s the highlights of the whole tournament for me.”

As for the next season, he said they have plans to host Season 2 next summer.

Tenorio then thanked all those who supported their basketball tournament. Major sponsors are Ali’i Inc., Blue Haus, Win Pacific Corp., J.T.M Corp., Hardt Eye Clinic, Legends Sports Club, Hybrid Shop, and R.H.F Marketing Services. He also thanked all the parents, the Madflex kids, Janelle Pangilinan and Nate Guerrero of Northern Marianas Sports Association and the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, table officials, Erwin Lumanlan, Dick Tibayan, the coaches Dan Chan, Abel Caraig, Ed Guinto, Elmer Esdrelon, Jeff Garcia, Mike Surima, and Omar Ajoste. “Also, thanks to Mr. Rob Harrell, Ms. Cecille Camama, Mr. Jerry Diaz, my family, and coach Amor Zapata for arranging and carrying out this basketball tournament. And to God who made me an instrument for the simple dreams of the youth.”

Hardt Eye Clinic 65 – Lucero 34, Navarro 24, Tibayan 2, Tenorio 2, Pelisamen 2, Dilao 1.

Bluehaus 63 – Tibayan 22, I. Ibarola 18, Lucero 12, Palacios 5, Ragbonshe 4, Y. Sapo 2.