V-God, Ballers Bros triumph in 3×3 caging
Ballers Bros’ Khristian Itaas drives against two BoonkGang defenders during their title game in the boys U16 division of the Saipan leg of the 3x3 Hoopfest Marianas 2017 last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

V-God and Ballers Bros took the championships in their respective divisions in the Saipan leg of the 3×3 Hoopfest Marianas 2017 last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
V-God secured the boys U19 title after dominating Big B’s in the finals, 21-14, while Ballers Bros clinched the boys U16 crown following a 13-9 triumph over BoonkGang.
Jeffrey Castro powered V-God to the championship victory after drilling a game-high 14 points. Dean Blake and Franco Bondoc joined the V-God point guard on the winning team with the former chipping in 4 markers and the latter adding 3. Bondoc scored V-God’s first 3 points, while Castro took over, nailing the squad’s next 9 markers. Blake also had a string of 3 points before Castro again stepped up and closed out for V-God.
Chris Arceo paced Big B’s with his 8 points, while Jelbert Quitugua and Aaron Ogumoro posted 4 and 2, respectively.
Ogumoro’s production in the title match was a far cry from his 11 markers in the semifinals where he lifted Big B’s to a 21-14 win over Islanders. Angelo Factor helped Ogumoro in bringing Big B’s to the championship game after adding 8 points, while Arceo finished with 2 markers. Rafael Ordonio and Ronald Bernardo recorded 6 points apiece for the Islanders.
In the other semis pairing, V-God pulled off a close win against the Warriors, 14-12. Castro also played a key role in their Final Four victory, as he scored V-God’s last 6 points to end up with a game-high 9 markers. Bondoc registered 3, while Blake made 2. Kekuni Kainoa had 6 points on a losing effort for the Warriors.
Meanwhile, in the boys U16 finals, Khristian Itaas posted 6 points in Ballers Bros’ victory over BoonkGang.
Itaas also drew enough support from teammates Anthony Lajara and Drew Bayot, who recorded 4 and 3 points, respectively, in the title game.
Paulo Cadag had 5 points for the runner-up BoonkGang, while Christian Bravo added 3, and Adonis Favor logged a point.