Typhoon sweeps U16 division crowns

The Typhoon’s Lisa Nicole Clamor pulls up for a shot against the Lady Ol’Aces defenders during their girls U16 title game in the 3×3 Hoopfest Marianas 2017 yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Titian Sports Association Typhoon lorded it over in the U16 division of the 3×3 Hoopfest Marianas 2017, winning both the girls and boys title matches yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Typhoon first took the girls U16 tiara after beating the Lady Ol’Aces, 12-8, while the visiting group’s boys squad completed the sweep following an 8-5 triumph over Boonkgang.

Jared King, Tyler Santos, Eron Borja, and Sir-iashu Dela Cruz played for the Typhoon and went up against Boonkgang’s Christian Bravo, J.C. Ferrari, Adonis Favor, and Paulo Cadag. Santos top-scored for the Typhoon (5 points) with his 2-point basket giving his team the lead for good, 8-4, with a little over a minute left in the 10-minute finale.

The Typhoon managed to keep the upper hand after Boonkgang muffed all its free throw shots down the stretch. Bravo and Favor could have tied the match, as they were given two free throws apiece after the Typhoon hit the foul limit, but the Boonkgang pair missed their charities. Before facing a 4-point deficit, Boonkgang also faltered from the foul line at least on three occasions.

A floater from Bravo ended Boonkgang’s silence, but time was not on their side as he made the shot with less than 20 seconds left in the game. The Typhoon then wisely melted down the clock in its next two possessions en route to securing the division championship.

The Typhoon moved into the title game after a free win over the Ol’Aces Rebels, who were a no-show in the 9am semis match yesterday.

In the other Final Four pairing, Boonkgang denied Saipan leg champion Ballers Bros a return trip to the finals after eking out a 10-9 victory.

Bravo and Favor scored 4 points apiece in that semis triumph with the latter knocking in the go-ahead basket. Ferrari and Cadag added a point each, while Khristian Itaas led Ballers Bros’ losing cause after firing 7 points. Stephen Bartolo and Drew Bayot made the 2 other markers for Ballers Bros.

In the girls U16 division, Lisa Nicole Clamor, Rita King, and Sophia Cruz knocked in multiple baskets for the Typhoon to top the Ol’Aces.

Clamor, King, and Cruz each tallied 4 points, alternately hitting shots that kept the Typhoon in the lead all throughout the match. Eloisa Manibusan was the fourth member of the champion team, while Desrei and Sedrei Camacho, Christian Hayag, and Jaime Pangelinan suited up for the Lady Ol’Aces. The four Lady Ol’Aces players scored 2 markers apiece in the finale.

Meanwhile, the final round of the 3×3 Hoopfest Marianas 2017 also featured championship games in the girls and boys U19 age groups and the men’s and women’s open divisions. Complete results of these matches will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Tuesday edition.