Rollers I vs Jr. Nationals in finals

Rainier Deleon Guerrero never made a single basket against the San Antonio Sixers, but when he did in the last 9.8 seconds of the game, they were big—big enough to put the Rollers I to the finals of the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League.

Deleon Guerrero calmly sank two pressure-packed free throws in the closing seconds of their semifinals game against the Sixers to lift the Rollers I to a 73-71 victory Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The victory brought the Rollers I to the finals again after failing to advance in the title match last season, as it was beaten by the CNMI Junior Nationals in the semifinals. The Rollers I won the Rotary title in 2006 and incidentally it will try to regain its lost crown against the Junior Nationals, who claimed the finals berth after a 64-53 triumph over the G-Stars in the other semis game Monday night.

The Rollers I-Sixers tiff was tied last at the 71-71 tally after Don Teregeyo canned two charities, with 21. 2 seconds remaining on the clock.

Sixers coach Ray Duenas called his last timeout to map out an offensive play. The Sixers inbounded the ball from the left baseline and had three players getting touches on the possession with Matt Duenas the last.

Duenas failed to look at the clock, which still read 11 seconds, hurriedly drove to the middle, pulled up for a shot against two Rollers I defenders, and missed.

Deleon Guerrero controlled the rebound and dribbled out of Sixers defenders. The Rollers I center was able to elude two Sixers players and was dribbling near the Sixers bench when he was bumped by Aaron Agtarap.

Agtarap was charged with a foul, the Sixers ninth putting them in the penalty mark and sending Deleon Guerrero to the 15-foot line.

Deleon Guerrero was scoreless prior to his trip to the free throw line, as he hardly attempted to score against the Sixers and reported back into the game only in the closing minutes of the semis match

Deleon Guerrero received the ball from the referee, did not dribble, bent his knees, looked at his target, took two long breaths, and released the ball, which hit nothing but the bottom of the net.

He had the same routine for the second charity and swooshed it giving the Rollers I a two-point lead, 73-71, with 9.8 seconds left in the game

The Sixers, which had no more timeouts, were forced to rush things with Joe Ada driving to the right baseline, going for an acrobatic shot, as he was met by two Rollers I defenders, and missing the game-tying basket.

There was a battle for the loose ball and neither team got clear possession as time expired completing the Rollers I’s upset win over the second-seeded Sixers.

The Rollers I lost to the Sixers in the regular season and in the battle for third place last year. The Rollers I were seeded only third in the playoffs behind the Junior Nationals and the Sixers.

Teregeyo paced the Rollers I with his 19 points, while Manny Matagolau chipped in 16. Jomar Danas and Edwin Camacho contributed 10 apiece.

Ada led the Sixers’ losing cause, hitting two markers.

The Junior Nationals-Rollers I title showdown will be played tomorrow 7pm, while the Sixers will duel the G-Stars for the third place trophy at 5:30pm.

Jericho Cruz anchored the Junior Nationals 11-point semis win over the G-Stars as the 2008 Oceania Youth Tournament scoring champion exploded for 30 points.

The G-Stars kept pace with the Junior Nationals only in the first half, trailing by only one at halftime, 27-28.

But when Cruz and fellow OYT veteran Marvin Rabauliman took charge, the G-Stars started to lose their chances for an upset.

Rabauliman finished with 18 markers.

No G-Stars player made it into double figures, as their highest-scorer—Dan Mateo—had only eight points.

First Game

Junior Nationals 64 – Cruz 30, Rabauliman 18, Moses 7, White 4, Williams 4.

G-Stars 53 – D. Mateo 8, N. Mateo 7, Palacios 7, L. Rangamar 6, Jung 5, Kenty 5, S. Rangamar 5, Iguel 4, Sablan 4.

Scoring by halves: 28-27, 64-53.

Second Game

Rollers I 73 – Teregeyo 19, Matagolai 16, Danas 10, E. Camacho 10, Concepcion 7, Ogarto 3, Deleon Guerrero 2.

Sixers 71 – Ada 22, E. Duenas 16, M. Duenas 12, Flores 8, Agtarap 2, Benavente 2, Pepito 2.

Scoring by halves: 35-37, 73-71.