Champions crowned in NYBA

After a week of intense competition, teams began emerging as champions of the 2nd Annual DFS-Northern Youth Basketball Association Invitational.

Three champions were crowned as of press time yesterday, as the Garapan Rollers reigned in the Division I 12-and-under competition and the Division II 15-and-under girls competition, while the San Antonio Sixers topped the Division II boys division.

The first to be crowned were the G-Rollers in the 12-and-under age group as the team slipped by the Agat Lakers, 32-30.

It was a tough battle from beginning to end, and the Lakers were actually ahead by a slim margin at the end of the first half, 17-14, with Joni Tepohago fueling the team’s run with eight points.

Games are won in the second half, and the G-Rollers were well aware. The team worked hard and erased the deficit, and Nino Feria scored nine big points, including the eventual game winner to lift his team.

Feria finished with 11 points to lead the G-Rollers, while Tepohago led Agat with 10 points.

Soon after, the G-Rollers cage belles took the spotlight and defeated the Barrigada Crusaders, 60-48, to win the girls’ Division II title.

Despite playing with only six players, the G-Rollers were hungry for the title, and showed it.

Led by Chelsea Ruluked, Lia Rangamar, and Nicole Lebria, who were members of the CNMI National team that won gold in the 6th Micronesian Games, the G-Rollers were able to dominate the first half and close with a 35-23 advantage. Ruluked and Lebria led the team’s push with 13 and 10 points, while Rangamar and Noelle Calvo each had six markers.

Despite the double digit deficit, the Crusaders were not ready to throw in the towel. Victoria Mendiola sizzled for 12 points and her teammates were solid in support to help Barrigada keep pace with their opponents.

The G-Rollers, however, were not about to collapse and Ruluked worked for another 12 points to spearhead a strong close to the team’s successful campaign.

Ruluked finished with a game-high 25 points, while Lebria and Rangamar contributed 12 and 11 points. Calvo added 10 points.

Mendiola led Barrigada with 18 points, while Tiana Piper supported with 10 points.

For their part, the Sixers were up against another team from the south, but still survived a tightly fought bout to edge the Southern Sonics, 82-80.

The Sixers grabbed control early courtesy of the play of Ernest and Matt Duenas and Nathan Flores. Ernest worked for 15 points, Flores had nine points, and Matt pumped in seven to help the team outscore the opposition, 41-29 in the first half.

The Sonics showed they deserved their spot in the finals as the team dug deep and got the energy needed to pull back into contention. E.J. Bautista went berserk and lit up the scoreboard for 17 points to carry his team, and Anthony Rogolifoi gave his team quality minutes with 12 points. With the to having their way, the Sonics were able to erase the big deficit and put themselves in a position to win.

Their effort came up a bit short, though, as the Sixers were able to hold on with just enough juice, and two crucial free throws by Brian Ajoste became the difference for the two-point victory margin.

Ernest Duenas finished with a game-high 28 points to lead the Sixers, while Flores and Aaron Agtarap added 16 and 10 points.

Rogolifoi and Bautista led the Sonics with 19 and 18 points, while Leo Galarse and Ed Solito added 13 points apiece.

Friday also featured intense competition as teams worked hard in the playoffs in hopes of playing in the finals.

The biggest game came in the Division III boys’ competition as the Sonics and G-Rollers battle for four quarters and three overtime periods before the Sonics were able to win, 107-99.

The G-Rollers were down by three with a little over a second left in regulation when Jericho Cruz launched a long triple that made its way through the hoop to force the first extra period. The two teams were neck and neck in the first two extra quarters, but the Sonics had just enough to pull ahead in the third OT for the win.

As of press time, the Sonics and 670 were battling for the title in the Division III boys.