Jr. Nationals, Sixers oust playoff foes

The top two teams after the regular season in the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League lived up to expectations at the start of the playoffs Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Pennant champion CNMI Junior Nationals defeated the Southern Sonics in the first game, 53-42, while second-seeded San Antonio Sixers downed the Chalan Kanoa Saints, 63-56.

The Junior Nationals and the Sixers are now in the semifinals, while the Saints and the Sonics were eliminated in the single-elimination playoffs.

The nine-point win allowed the Junior Nationals to avenge their 74-67 loss to the Sonics in the regular season. The Junior Nationals finished the elimination round with a perfect 8-0 record after their lone loss to the Sonics was nullified, as the latter fielded an ineligible player in the 18-and-under caging.

Besides forfeiting their win against the Junior Nationals, the Sonics’ four other victories were nullified, putting them in last place in the playoffs and pitting them against the pennant champion.

Jericho Cruz paced the Junior Nationals with 21 points, while Joseph White chipped in 13 markers to boost their team’s title defense.

The Junior Nationals won last year’s finals against the Sonics, 98-91.

The Sixers placed third last season, but strengthened their bid for a finals trip after a seven-point win over the Saints.

The Sixers led by 12, 32-20, at halftime behind the 16-point explosion of Joe Ada in the first half.

But the Saints moved within a point in the first five minutes of the second half after launching a 12-1 run. The Saints capitalized on the Sixers’ errors and turned them into fastbreak layups to threaten the Ray Duenas-coached squad.

But the Sixers recovered and answered with their own 12-2 run to widen the lead anew, 64-34, going into the last six minutes of the game.

The Sixers hung on to the lead to foil the Saints’ upset bid

Ada top-scored for the Sixers with his 24 points, while Novo Pepito and Ernest Duenas chipped in 14 and 11 markers, respectively.

The Sixers will face the winner of the Rollers 1-Suns playoff game for a finals ticket on Monday. The Rollers I and Suns were playing last night, but results of the match were unavailable at press time.

The Junior Nationals will meet the victor of the G-Stars-Kontenders tiff, for the other finals seat, also on Monday. The G-Stars and the Kontenders will duel tomorrow.

The title and consolation matches are set for Nov. 4.
First Game

CNMI Junior Nationals 53 – Cruz 21, White 13, Moses 9, Rabauliman 6, Williams 4.

Sonics 42 – Ecalnea 12, Ajoste 8, Eclevia 8, Galarse 4, Salas 4, Soria 3 Chan 1, Dela Cruz 1.

Scoring by halves: 13-11, 53-42.
Second Game

Sixers 63 – Ada 24, Pepito 14, E. Duenas 11, Benavente 7, Agtarap 4, M. Duenas 3.

Saints 56 – Tudela 18, Reyes 15, Lizama 8, Iglecias 6, Masga 4, Stoll 4.

Scoring by halves: 32-20, 63-56.