Rollers A players lead Holiday Hoops scoring

Rollers A failed to claim the boys’ 18-and-under division title in the 2008 Annual Christmas Basketball Jam Festival last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, but as a consolation, three of its players ruled the scoring department in the annual tournament.

In five games, Zack Tudela collected 140 points to emerge as the top scorer in the boys’ 18-and-under division. Completing Rollers A’s 1-2-3 finish in scoring were Manny Matagolai and Don Teregeyo, who earned 137 and 96 points, respectively.

The trio was consistent offensively for Rollers A in the pool play leading the team to a perfect 3-0 record. In the semis, they helped Rollers A pull off a 120-110 overtime win against the Sonics to advance to the finals against the G-Stars.

Teregeyo fired 22 points, while Matagolai chipped in 18 in Rollers A’s losing effort against the G-Stars in the title match (86-77).

Joseph Ada of the Sixers, who made it into the playoffs before losing to the Sonics, was ranked fourth in scoring with 86 points.

The G-Stars’ Marvin Rabauliman finished fifth with 83 points, but could have ranked higher had he played in the finals. Rabauliman was suspended for the title match due to an unsportsmanlike conduct.

Completing the Top 10 were G-Stars’ Jericho Cruz (78 points), Rollers B’s Brandon Aurelio (77), Rollers A’s Luizi Reyes (76), Sonics’ Tristan Ecalnea (76), Sixers’ Novo Pepito (73), and Sonics’ Michael Eclevia (72).

The top scorers in two other divisions (boys’ 14-and-under and girls’ 18-and-under) came from the champion teams.

Roxanne Duenas of girls’ 18-and-under titlists Lady Knights tallied 93 points in five games to beat MHS II teammates Lia Rangamar (86) and Lena Guzman (79).

Rounding out to Top 5 were the Lady Ayuyus’ Yvonne Bennett (70) and the Lady Knights’ Noelle Calvo and MHS I’s Lalaine Pagarao, who scored 68 points apiece.

Three more MHS players and two from Kagman made it into the Top 10 with the Lady Dolphins’ Jeneque Benavente placing sixth with 63 points, followed by teammate Riza Tacliad (58), Lady Ayuyus’ Nikita Hofschneider (57), MHS’s Ira Palero (53), and the Lady Ayuyus’ Mercedes Mesa (45).

John Darag of boys’ 14-and-under champion Lil’Sonics made it to the century mark, firing a total of 100 points in five games to lead nine others.

Sixers I players dominated the Top 5 with John Cenir finishing second with his 92 points, followed by Tanner Maratita (85), Jack Aranda (68), and Nevin Salem and Ralph Francisco, who nailed 62 points each.

Completing the Top 10 were Rollers A’s Lester Vertudez (59) and Lawrence Deleon Guerrero (55), Lil’ Sonics’ Angelo Salas (54), Sixers 1’s Jed Villanueva (50), and Lil’ Sonics’ Max Camacho (48).

The Holiday Hoops was organized by the Basketball Association of Northern Mariana Islands in cooperation with the Division of Sports and Recreation, Division of Youth Services, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, and the Saipan Mayor’s Office.

FIBA international referee Gabriel White was the tournament director.