Saipan cagers sweep PACRIM

Saipan teams broke the hearts of Guam’s Southern Youth Basketball Association All-Stars by sweeping both the 18-and-under and 14-and-under basketball divisions of the 3rd Annual Pacific Rim Youth Goodwill Tournament Friday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Saipan Sixers were the first to give SYBA a tearful send-off, leading wire-to-wire to surprise the Guamanians 86-72 in the 14-and-under championship.

Manuel Ajoste sidestepped and double-pumped his way for 34 points to pace the Sixers’ brilliant win. The 5’6” spitfire and point guard Mike Eclevia combined for 15 points, as the troops of coach Ryan Nisperos took the initiative, 21-11, after the opening quarter.

Ajoste then scattered 13 more points in the second quarter, as Sixers continued to dominate SYBA and entered halftime with a 43-33 spread.

SYBA tried to get things going behind the five points of Edgardo Baza and four of Christian Reyes but still found themselves down, 50-61, after three quarters of play.

Sixers coasted through the early parts of the fourth and final quarter before SYBA made their last ditch stand. Back-to-back buckets by Reyes and a drive in traffic by Baza sliced the Sixers’ lead to eight, 75-67, with 2:54 left in the game clock.

But like the first three quarters, Ajoste again answered the call, firing a 3-pointer with a defender in his face to seal the deal with still two minutes and change left in the ballgame.

Ajoste had plenty of support with Alvin Salas and Eclevia chipping in 14 and 12 points in the win. Baza led SYBA with 18 points, while Dominic Sablan and Jonathan Fayton added 16 and 14 points, respectively.

In the battle for third, defending champion Oyea salvaged third place after beating Garapan Rollers 54-44.

While Sixers had a relatively easy time keeping the juniors trophy on Saipan soil, Ol’Aces had a lot of nervous moments in their 60-56 triumph over SYBA in the 18-and-under finals.

It was a low scoring, emotionally charged contest with both teams exchanging leads before the boys of Elias Rangamar took the driver’s seat for good in the closing minutes of the third.

Ol’Aces in fact led as much as nine points, 50-41, on the strength of back-to-back triples by Paul Magcalas and a nifty floater by human pogo stick Jeremy Winkfield. But SYBA refused to give the championship on a silver platter.

A strong inside move by Jason Meno, a triple by A.J. Aguon and a short stab by Reuben Quinata brought Guam within a deuce, 48-50, with time down to 5:53.

But Magcalas drove the stake into the heart of SYBA with cerebral plays in the homestretch.

He first converted on an old fashioned 3-point play to give Ol’Aces a 53-48 lead. After Guam made a 6-0 run to breath down on Ol’Aces, 54-55, Magcalas combined with Winkfield to score five of the game’s last seven points to preserve the victory.

Magcalas (21 points) again formed a deadly triangle with Winkfield (16) and Dan Barcinas (13), as the trio scored all but 10 of Ol’Aces’ total points in the game.

For SYBA, the beefy Quinata was immovable down the low post and scored 14 points to share scoring honors with long-distance shooter Aguon.

After the game, SYBA put the game under protest and told commissioner Gabriel White that they will make the action formal with a letter the following morning.

Ol’Aces advanced to the championship round after whipping Saipan Sixers 80-62. SYBA, meanwhile, got the finals ticket following their 80-57 romp of Cyclones.

In the battle for third, Saipan Sixers walloped Cyclones 95-72.

14-and-under Championship

Sixers 86 – M. Ajoste 34, Salas 14, Eclevia 12, B. Ajoste 7, Buena 6, Villegas 4, Kintz 3, Dela Cruz 2, Flores 2, Chan 2.

SYBA 72 – Baza 18, Sablan 16, Fayton 14, Reyes 14, Pobre 4, Castro 2, Serneo 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-11, 43-33, 61-50, 86-72.

18-and-under
First Semifinal Game

Ol’Aces 88 – Magcalas 21, Winkfield 20, D. Barcinas 17, Deleon Guerrero 8, Iguel 8, A. Barcinas 5, Hocking 3, Saures 2, Kim 2, Babauta 2.

Sixers 62 – Aranda 29, Ranas 13, Cequena 6, Kaipat 4, Flores 2, Lizama 2, Echon 2, Bahillo 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-20, 41-26, 66-42, 88-62.

Second Semifinals Game

SYBA 80 – Quinata 14, D. Sanchez 12, Nauta 11, Duenas 9, Topasna 8, Aquiningoc 8, A. Aguon 7, Meno 5, Bell 2, D, Aguon 2, C. Sanchez 2.

Cyclones 57 – J. Sablan 27, Ngeskebei 8, B. Sablan 7, Alvarez 6, Palacios 6, Basa 2, Blas 1.

Scoring by quarters: 33-9, 48-18, 62-37, 80-57.

Championship

Ol’Aces 60 – Magcalas 21, Winkfield 16, D. Barcinas 13, Deleon Guerrero 4, Hocking 4, Iguel 2.

SYBA 56 – Quinata 14, A. Aguon 14, Meno 9, Z. Sanchez 8, D. Sanchez 8, D. Aguon 3.

Scoring by quarters: 9-9, 22-21, 45-39, 60-56.