Undefeated A Plus Team finally ousts Blue Haus for masters title

Undefeated A Plus Team-Saipan Marine Corp. held steadfast against a worthy opponent and finally defeated archrival Blue Haus, 69-57, for the masters division championship of the Inaugural SMEC-SMLEG Invitational Basketball Tournament 2023 late last Saturday night at an action-packed Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

It was crunch time for Blue Haus with just two minutes left in as they tried to make a push into A Plus Team territory—who held commanding leads throughout the game. But from a 10-point, 54-44 A Plus lead, Blue Haus chopped away at it and made it 57-63 from rush plays and a three-pointer by Junar Guiab.

However, A Plus tightened their defense with arms and hands flailing in the air as the ball bounced and soared from A Plus to Blue Haus players in the balls’ path—only to grace A Plus with more possession that they capitalized on and converted into much needed field goals.

Blue Haus remained stuck at 57 points while A Plus’ smooth, open plays and assists allowed them to score six more points—thanks to Joel Javier, Chris Sanchez, and Tim Wesley, that established their commanding 12-point lead until the final seconds wound down.

Throughout the game, A Plus’ defense was their best offense as Andrew “Uncle Drew” Ashburn, Gino Libuw, and De Shawn Reign’s sheer height and bulk—and fast hands rejected Blue Haus players left and right and caused an apparent tearing down of their confidence and accuracy.

It was a physical game from both ends as they racked up fouls and free throws, but it was the combined A Plus’ impenetrable defense and Blue Haus’ lackluster offense that handed the championship to the undefeated A Plus Team.

A Plus’ lead scorer was speedy and sharpshooting Chris Sanchez with 20 points, while Libuw contributed mostly from 3-point range with 16, followed by Ashburn’s 10 points.

For Blue Haus, Guiab scored 15, while Tony Diaz had 11 markers, and Jay-R Barrios put up 9 points.

A Plus head coach Edong Echavez breathed a sigh of relief after the finals as he said they finally beat Blue Haus.

He said on beating them, “It’s great! It’s our first time to beat them.” He said that this is their second time meeting them in the finals—the first from another basketball league—which they lost by two points. “This is a good rematch for us,” he said.

Their strategy to beat them, he said, was “always our defense—we’re undefeated because of our solid defense. That’s the key.”

As for what he thinks about Blue Haus, he said, “They’re still the team to beat and they’ll always be the team to beat.”

He then thanked their team’s sponsors, Saipan Marine Corp. and A Plus Corp., their coaches and staff, along with the league’s organizers, the Saipan Maga’haga Lady Eagles Group and Saipan Magalahi Eagles Club.

Blue Haus 57 – Guiab 15, T. Diaz 11, Barrios 9, E. Diaz 5, Talania 4, Santos 3, De Dios 2.

A Plus Team 69 – Sanchez 20, Libuw 16, Reign 10, Wesley 8, Javier 4.