Jr. Nationals keep pennant bid alive

The CNMI Junior Nationals boosted their bid for the pennant in the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League after thwarting the Rollers I, 61-55, Friday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The victory was the Junior Nationals’ sixth in as many games, moving them a win away from league-leading San Antonio Sixers (7-0). The Junior Nationals and the Sixers will duel on Wednesday to decide this seasonís pennant winner

Friday’s game was the CNMI Junior Nationals’ first in the 18-and-under caging since taking a weeklong break to travel to Guam and compete in the 7th FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament.

The Rufino Aguon-mentored squad had a sluggish start and trailed by nine at halftime, 22-31.

Jericho Cruz, who was the scoring champion in Guam averaging 23 points per game in the pool play, could not find his rhythm against the Rollers I in the first half and was held to a pair of free throws.

With Cruz having a tough time scoring in the first half, Marvin Rabauliman, who also showed an impressive performance in the FIBA Oceania tournament, took charge for the Junior Nationals.

Rabauliman had 14 first-half points, but these were not enough to put the Junior Nationals to the driver’s seat in the first half, as he was the lone player on his team to nail more than two field goals.

Joseph White had only four points and Jose Castro added only two in the first half.

Manny Matagolai scored the Rollers I’s first four points and finished with 13 in the first half. He drew support from Rainier Deleon Guerrero and Don Teregeyo to boost the Rollers I’s chances for an upset against the undefeated Junior Nationals.

But the Rollers I failed to finish what it started, as Cruz began hitting his marks and Rabauliman picked up where he left of in the second half.

Cruz erupted for 19 points in the second half, while Rabauliman chipped in 12.

After a hot first half, Matagolai was almost a no-show in the second, as he was held to two points. Teregeyo was worse, as he was scoreless in the second half, while Deleon Guerrero was limited to three points.

Jomar Danas tried to keep the Rollers I’s bid for an upset alive, but his eight second-half points were no match to Cruz and Rabauliman’s combined outputs. Danas was the lone Rollers I player to score more than a field goal in the second half.

The loss ended the Rollers I’s two-game winning streak and dropped the team to a 4-3 record. The Rollers I will play its last game in the regular season on Tuesday when it collides with the G-Stars.

After their game against the Sixers, the Junior Nationals will close out the regular season with their match against the G-Stars on Oct. 17.

The G-Stars and the Junior Nationals are playing in several makeup games after missing matches last week due to the FIBA Oceania caging.

The G-Stars could not play last week, as their coach—Jose Tumaquip—called the shots for the CNMI Women’s Junior Nationals.

Junior Nationals 61—Rabauliman 26, Cruz 21, White 6, Castro 4, Villagomez 2.

Rollers I 55—Matagolai 15, Danas 8, Deleon Guerrero 8, Teregeyo 7, Ogarto 6, Concepcion 4, E. Camach 2, A. Camacho 2.

Scoring by halves: 31-22, 61-55.