CNMI Jr. Nationals secure pennant
The CNMI Junior Nationals capitalized on the San Antonio Sixers’ errors in the stretch to post an 89-74 victory last night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium and claim the pennant in the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League.
The Sixers committed several turnovers and took hurried shots in the last four minutes of the game to lose their pennant bid. The Sixers finished the regular season with a 7-1 record.
The CNMI Junior Nationals improved to a 7-0 mark and even if they lose to the G-Stars tonight, the Rufino Aguon-mentored squad will still be this year’s pennant champion.
Jericho Cruz and Joseph White drilled crucial baskets in the closing minutes of the game, as they were mostly the recipients of the Junior Nationals’ fastbreak plays.
The Sixers lost the battle of speed because after they made baskets, they failed to return to transition defense, allowing Cruz and White to cruise to breakaway layups.
On several occasions, the Sixers were too fast for their own good, losing the ball on their way to the basket.
The Sixers threatened the Junior Nationals last at the 68-71 tally after Joe Ada made a layup, entering the final four minutes of the match.
But Cruz and White led the Junior Nationals 18-16 windup to nail the 15-point win.
Cruz had nine of the Junior Nationals’ last 18 points, splitting his charities in the last two minutes of the game to give his team a 10-point lead, 82-72.
Earlier, White scored four points to up the Junior Nationals lead from three to seven, 79-72.
The Sixers had plenty of time to catch up, but instead of setting up for quick two-pointers, they took several 3-pointers and failed to make a single shot from downtown. Worse, the Sixers also had turnovers with Ada losing the possession on the baseline, and the ball slipping Matt Duenas’ hands with Cruz getting the ball and drilling a coast-to-coast layup that increased the Junior Nationals’ lead to 12, 84-72, with 1:05 remaining on the clock.
Free throws from Cruz and Allen Mosses and another layup from White secured the victory for the Junior Nationals.
Cruz paced the Junior Nationals with 32 points, while White chipped in 20.
The Junior Nationals played against the Sixers sans their second best scorer Marvin Rabauliman, who was given disciplinary action and will only play at the start of the playoffs next week.
The Junior Nationals hardly felt Rabauliman’s absence, as Jose Castro took his place, adding 19 markers. Moses also finished in double figures with 10 points, while Heartim Williams and John Villagomez scored four apiece.
Only four players scored for the Sixers with Ada hitting 32 points. Ernest Duenas contributed 17, but was held to only a field goal in the last six minutes of the match. Matt Duenas fired 14, but had only two points in the second half. Ian Benavente nailed nine.
CNMI Junior Nationals 89 – Cruz 32, White 20, Castro 19, Moses 10, Villagomez 4, Williams 4.
Sixers 74 – Ada 32, E Duenas 17, M. Duenas 14, Benavente 9.
Scoring by quarters: 43-42, 89-74
Referees: Gabriel White and Connie Camacho.