{"id":404028,"date":"2024-01-22T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-22T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=404028"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Shots-Fired-upsets-Team-Nesian-Built-in-3x3-tourney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Shots-Fired-upsets-Team-Nesian-Built-in-3x3-tourney\/","title":{"rendered":"Shots Fired upsets Team Nesian Built in 3×3 tourney"},"content":{"rendered":"

Team Shots Fired released shot after shot to make a comeback and stun two-time defending 3×3 champions Team Nesian Built to win the NMIBF Marianas Arsenal 3×3 Basketball Series for January.<\/p>\n

Youth trumped experience this time around as the U16 team of young up-and-coming ballers\u2014Jezpher Navarro, Christian Lucero, and Austin Diaz\u2014pulled an upset against veteran Team Nesian Built\u2019s Coby Santos, Douglas Schmidt, Preston Basa, and Jack Lizama, 21-19, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium last Saturday.<\/p>\n

Team Nesian Built had the upper hand with a more than 5-point lead five minutes into the game, but the tenacity of Shots Fired allowed them to chip away at that lead come crunch time.<\/p>\n

Back-to-back shots by Lucero allowed them to tie the game up, 17-17, with a little over a minute left. Team Nesian Built tried to add to their lead and managed to put just 2 more points, 19-17, while Shots Fired continued to hack away at the net.<\/p>\n

A missed shot by Lucero was tipped in by a waiting Diaz to get by 1 point of Team Nesian Built, 19-18. It was still Shots Fired possession after a missed attempt by Basa and they didn\u2019t waste it as Navarro sunk the game-leading shot, 20-19, with 50 seconds left.<\/p>\n

It was over as Navarro shot another Hail Mary to win, 21-19, after more missed opportunities by Team Nesian Built gave the advantage to the win-hungry U16 team.<\/p>\n

Fifteen-year-old Navarro said after the game that they joined this purely for experience, as they are too young to represent NMI for the FIBA Asia 3×3 Cup in Singapore this year.<\/p>\n

The Saipan Southern High School student, after they beat the defending champs, said \u201cit was very surprising. I know that there\u2019s a lot of competition and we just want to experience it and see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

The strategy, Navarro said, was to just \u201cshoot and shoot. Whenever we get the ball, just shoot and let it fly.\u201d Coming from behind with a more than 5-point deficit at one point, Navarro said, \u201cWe had a negative mindset but then as we played, we picked it up and we got the victory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even if they aren\u2019t eligible for the FIBA Asia Cup, Navarro said their team will be back again to play in the next tournament.<\/p>\n

The last two 3×3 series in November and December were won by Team Nesian Built.<\/p>\n

Team Nesian Built still has a chance of representing NMI in the FIBA Asia 3×3 Cup in Singapore.<\/p>\n

Currently, TNB is in the lead in the points system with 140 points; second is Net Rippers at 90; third is Hagu Real Hoops with 80; Shots Fired is at 60; La Mesa Kusina (Eats Easy) has 50; K2 Ballers, Tupu Kingz, and Team Elite are at 30 each; Toka and Team Priority Care have 20 points each; and Socho, Brawlers, 10-7, Scorgasm, Tuntunizers, and Risers are at 10 points each.<\/p>\n

Results of the women\u2019s 3×3 finals will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Shots Fired\u2019s Jezpher Navarro pulls up for a shot against Team Nesian Built\u2019s Jack Lizama in the January NMIBF Marianas Arsenal 3×3 Basketball Series last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

From left, Shots Fired’s Jezpher Navarro, Austin Diaz, and Christian Lucero pose for a photo after they pulled an upset against two-time 3×3 champions Team Nesian Built in the finals of the January NMIBF Marianas Arsenal 3×3 Basketball Series last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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