Lakers win 3×3 hoops tournament

Lakers point guard Manai Won attempts a jump shot over a Warriors defender during the finals of the 3×3 Basketball Tournament hosted by the new basketball team Prospects last Saturday evening at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (LEIGH GASES )

Newfound basketball team, Prospects, hosted an in-house 3×3 basketball tournament last Friday and Saturday among its team members, with Team Lakers taking home the championship against the Warriors, in a close 9-7 finals at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Lakers finally won a championship in the form of young CNMI basketball stars as they spearheaded the winners bracket from Day 1. They first defeated the Nuggets, the Hornets, the Heat, and then the Warriors in the finals on the last day of the tournament.

The Lakers consisted of young basketball phenom Manai Won, Matthew Peters, Logan Daniel, and Bong Saralu and they took on Leon Duenas, Heman Addy, Joaltan Namauleg, and L.J. Dejillas.

Eleven-year-old Daniel said that winning the championship felt good and that the tournament turned out well. He said their team just tried to guard their best player from coming inside and kept getting the ball and making their shots. 

The Lakers team, consisting of Logan Daniel, second left, Manai Won, Matthew Peters, and Bong Saralu, won first place in the 3×3 Basketball Tournament hosted by the new Prospects basketball team coached by Mike Mercado, far left, Matt Duenas, far right, and David John Apatang, back, third from right, last Saturday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (LEIGH GASES)

Before the finals, 12-year-old Won, who is on summer vacation on Saipan and is the younger brother of CNMI national basketball players E’anna and Ky’Sonna Won, was interviewed and said that the tournament was fun. 

The grade seven point guard from Ohio said, “It was good competition. I’m really nervous but excited about the finals,” he said. Their strategy through the competition was to double team the team’s best player while one is in the paint.

The Prospects team is coached by David John Apatang, Mike Mercado, and Matt Duenas. The team consists of young basketball players from 18 years old and under.

The second place Warriors team poses for a photo with Prospects team coaches after the finals game of the 3×3 Basketball Tournament hosted by the new basketball team Prospects last Saturday evening at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (LEIGH GASES)

The tournament was an introduction for a lot of the young players to the sport of basketball. As to why the 3×3 format, Apatang said in their age group, “they need to learn how to space the court, which is what we lack a lot with the 5X5 format, so it helps them space the court and move the ball around and understand that their teammates are important. And it encourages them to love the game—which is what we’re really here for: the love of the game.”

Mercado said of the 30 plus players of the team, “the kids are all happy and that’s what it’s all about—to see these kids happy and to see them grow up to be better individuals.”

Some of the players were interviewed and showed their enthusiasm for the sport by saying they enjoyed the tournament. Keith Agulto, a 13-year-old, said that he joined to get better in basketball and to have fun. 

The coaches then thanked their sponsors Bella Wings Aviation, Bridge Capital LLC., NMTech, NMC, Hagu Real, D&Q, FSM Recycling, Rep. Manny Castro (Ind-Saipan), and Rep. John Paul Sablan (Ind-Saipan).

The first, second, and third place teams received over $2,000 worth of swag bags and prizes from the team’s sponsors.