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St John's to Finals
St. John's Argie Flores, dribbling around the St. Paul defense, would hit a big shot to send the semifinal game into overtime, where the Knights would win and advance to Saturday's finals against the Okkodo Bulldogs.
Knights vs. Bulldogs for title: St. Pauls falls to underdog St. John's
Written by
Julian North
For the Pacific Daily News
The Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam Boys' Basketball League was down to its final four Tuesday night as two semifinal games were held at JFK.
In the first matchup of the evening, St. Paul Christian School Warriors looked to avoid an upset as they faced a dangerous St. John's School team. It was a game for the ages with all the intensity and drama associated with playoff basketball.
The Knights recovered from a 25-15 deficit at halftime to defeat the Warriors 60-57 in overtime.
The Warriors came out on a clear mission to be the quicker team, and the strategy paid dividends as they were first to most loose balls and had a large advantage in fast-break points. Offensively, the Warriors were led by their dynamic duo of guards in Sheik Cariño and Tito Canovas, who paced the team with a combined 18 first-half points.
Defensively, Warriors center John San Andres dominated the paint, swatting or altering numerous shots while also chipping in offensively.
The tables turned in the third quarter when the Knights changed from their penetrating style of play and opted for a perimeter-based attack. The results seemed instantaneous as the Knights drained a trio of three-point baskets in the period en route to erasing the Warriors' lead.
The Knights took their first lead of the game late in the period when forward Reed Meyer snagged an offensive rebound and converted a tough layup that brought the score to 32-31.
The Warriors rebounded and finished the quarter strong, taking a 39-35 lead into the final period of regulation.
In the early minutes of the fourth quarter, Cariño and Canovas played the role of facilitators to the Warriors' offense, moving the ball to open space and finding open teammates for easy shots. With their offense back on track, the Warriors were able to keep the Knights at bay for most of the period.
But the intensity skyrocketed in the waning minutes and, after a layup by Meyer, the Knights only trailed by two points with under a minute remaining.
The Knights fouled on the next possession. The fouled player was shook up and unable to shoot his free throws, so reserve Adrian Manansala was inserted and made one of two, which pushed the Warriors' lead to three points with seconds remaining.
Knights' guard Argie Flores received the inbound pass and raced up court, dribbled off of a screen and, with his team's season in the balance, pulled up and drained a three-pointer to tie the game at 54-54 and force overtime.
"It felt good. With all the emotions of the game and the fans, I thank God it wasn't the last shot of my career," Flores said.
Flores scored the first basket of overtime on a fast-break layup.
The Warriors missed a couple free throw attempts and Cariño had a game-tying free throw waved off due to a lane violation. In the final seconds, Cariño sliced through the defense to make a layup and cut the Knights' lead to just one point.
On the inbounds, the Warriors pressured the ball handler and forced a turnover, but before they could convert the turnover, the Knights' Thaddeus Atalig got a steal and flew down court for a game-sealing layup as time expired.
The Bulldogs will face the Knights Friday for the championship. The third-place game will feature the Friars and the Warriors.
Bulldogs get revenge win over Friars
Written by
Jay Leon Guerrero
For the Pacific Daily News
The Okkodo Bulldogs got revenge from last year and used a huge fourth quarter to eliminate the Father Duenas Friars last night, 62-45, in the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam Boys' Basketball League playoffs at the John F. Kennedy High School gym.
The Bulldogs will next face the red-hot St. John's Knights for the championship game, set for Friday.
The Bulldogs started the game by denying league MVP Michael Sakazaki the opportunity to get a shot off. The Bulldogs had two defenders on him in the first quarter, which freed up guards Nicolas Aglubat and John Baza to hit three-pointers in the opening minutes, giving the Friars an early 8-2 lead. Bulldog point guard Joel Oyardo would roar back with a couple of mid-range jumpers to pull Okkodo to within a point after the first quarter, 14-13.
Joseph Ruppen came off the bench to ignite the Bulldogs to a 21-17 lead in the second quarter, but FD seniors Baza and Sakazaki put on a run to close out the half with a 27-26 lead.
The Bulldogs inside duo of Ruppen and Garren Reyes would make buckets and convert foul shots to put their team up by nine points midway thru the third quarter.
The Friars' Jeremiah Taitano tipped in a missed shot at the buzzer to cut the deficit in half. Father Duenas trailed by two points going into the final period.
Jason Santos' three-point shot put the Friars up 41-39, but that would be their last lead of the game.
Oyardo orchestrated an offensive explosive that put the Bulldogs in front for good. Ruppen converted on a three-point play and Keeno Madrazo hit a three-pointer from the corner to get the Bulldog fans on their feet.
Blaz and Ruppen made steals and converted layups to close the door on the Friars with under a minute to play. The Bulldogs ran out the clock for the victory.
"I'm just proud of the boys. Everyone did their job out there," an emotional Blaz said after the game. Blaz was a part of last year's team, which was eliminated in the semi-final round by the Friars.
Blaz, a senior, had 15 points and four steals for the Bulldogs. Baza led the Friars with 13 points, Sakazaki chipped in with seven points and eight rebounds. Ruppen led all scorers with 25 points and made 10 of 11 shots from the free-throw line.
Knights slay Warriors in overtime
BY MIKE NAUTA JR. | VARIETY NEWS STAFF
St. John's School Knights’ Argie Flores drains a clutch 3-pointer during last night's IIAAG semifinals playoff basketball game against the St. Paul Christian School Warriors at JFK's gym in Upper Tumon. The Knights defeated the Warriors 60-57 in overtime. Photo by Matt Weiss / Variety
Earns championship berth
THE John F. Kennedy High School gymnasium was packed with a loud and boisterous crowd as the IIAAG High School Boys' Basketball League boiled down to its final four teams. With only two slots in the championship game, last night's semifinal action determined who would eventually advance.
In the first of two games, the St. John's Knights battled against the St. Paul Warriors in a very heated and exciting game that needed overtime to decide a winner. At the sound of the game's final buzzer, it was the Knights who earned their right to the title match after earning a 60-57 victory.
"It was a really tough and hard-fought match by both teams. We just needed to execute and play hard all the way through," said Knights coach Fred Peters. "Tremendous display of heart by our boys, despite trailing for much of the game, they continued to battle."
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Knights found themselves trailing 53-46. However, the deficit didn't deter the boys from continuing to put up a fight. A converted jumper by Argie Flores and a made free throw by Reed Meyer made it a four-point game. The Warriors weren't able to secure the game after missing back-to-back opportunities.
With less than a minute in regulation, Meyer dropped a shot to make it a 53-51 game. The Warriors' Adrian Manasala converted one of two free throws to put his team up by three. On the ensuing possession, Flores dialed in from way downtown and nailed a 3 to equalize the game at 54-54. The clock struck zero, eventually sending the game into an extra period.
"We didn't allow ourselves to give up, we worked so hard and we just couldn't throw it all away," Flores said.
Overtime
After being shut out almost the entire game, Flores wasted no time starting the overtime period as he sank a layup to give his team a 56-54 lead. St. Paul's Sheik Carino managed to make a free throw to make it a one-point game. Both teams played aggressively on both ends of the floor and neither allowed the other a chance to score.
With less than a minute left in the extra period, Flores hit two crucial shots from the charity stripe, giving his team a three-point lead. The Warriors responded immediately as Carino drove his way to the basket to make it a 58-57 game with seconds on the clock.
On the inbounds, the Knights temporarily lost the ball until Thaddeus "TJ" Atalig nabbed it back and cruised to the other end for the easy layup that sealed the victory and spot in championship game.
"It's a feeling I can't describe, but making it to the championship game is only the first part. We still have to play one more game," Atalig said.
From the start of the game, the Warriors controlled the tempo and manned the boards efficiently. Led by the hot shooting of Tito Canovas and John San Andres, St. Paul closed out the opening quarter holding a 16-9 lead. Later in the second period, the Knights' woes continued as the Warriors relied on their box and one defense to create opportunities for points. As the half came to a close, the Knights’ deficit grew to 25-15.
Whatever was discussed at the halftime break proved to work for the Knights. At the start of the third period, the Knights were sizzling as they opened the first two minutes with a 12-2 run capped by a trey from Daniel Del Carmen. After exchanging blows for the remainder of the quarter, the Warriors saw their once double-digit lead turn into a (39-35) four-point game after three.
"No matter who we play in the championship, it's going to be about working hard and staying confident. It's my last year so I hope to end it with a sweet victory," Atalig said.
KNIGHTS WIN OT THRILLER
By Robert Balajadia
Warriors Sheik Carino and Knights Argie Flores fighting for the loose ball in the closing seconds of the game which turned out to be a fast break layup by Knights TJ Atalig. (photo by Jesse Castro)
St. John’s Argie Flores has hit many big shots for the Knights all season but none bigger than the three-pointer that sent them into overtime where the Knights defeated the St. Paul Warriors 60-57 at the JFK gym Tuesday night, advancing them to the championship game this Saturday.
Warriors Brian Tsujii was fouled by Knights Reed Meyer when trying to steal the ball with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Warriors up 53-51. Tsujii was unable to shoot the free throws leaving Warriors Adrian Manansala at the line to ice the game. Manansala missed the first and made the second extending the lead 54-51.
Flores took the inbound pass after the timeout and knew from the minute he stepped on the court that the shot was his to make. Teammate TJ Atalig set a high screen that Flores used to get a good enough look at a shot, letting the three-pointer fly between two Warriors defenders and sinking it with 5.5 seconds left on the clock. Flores ecstatically clenched his fists and roared at the Knights crowd in excitement. Flores led all scorers with 24 points.
McDonald’s player of the game: Knights’ Argie Flores. 23 points
“Coach always tells me to take the best available shot and [TJ] gave me a good screen which opened me up. I just pulled up and it felt good when I shot it and it sank in. Coach put the ball in my hands and tells me that it’s my team and I have to carry them so I figured the best possible shot was that one right there,” stated Flores on the biggest shot of the game.
The overtime was much like the closing seconds of the fourth quarter with both teams scraping for points in a very physical game.
St. John’s were holding on to a 58-57 lead with 12 seconds left in the overtime when the Warriors turned to John San Andres in the post where Meyer and teammate Cedric Sevilla managed to swipe the ball away.
Flores took the ball off the blocked shot but was met by Warriors’ Sheik Carino immediately, who poked the ball away which forced a scramble. Carino gained control but before he could dish it off to his teammate Flores stuck his hand underneath the ball, knocking it away to a wide open Atalig who sprinted to the bucket for the game ending layup as the buzzer expired.
Knights Reed Meyer and Cedric Sevilla denying Warriors John San Andres an easy layup that would have given the Warriors the lead in overtime. (photo by Jesse Castro)
“I was just trying to find myself in a better position to recover after that quick turnover. I saw that [Carino] was struggling on the floor with the ball and the path was just open and I just took it. I thought I got fouled on the layup and I didn’t know the game was over but I was happy that the game was over,” stated Atalig on the game sealing layup.
The Knights carried the momentum into the overtime with Flores scoring the first basket. Warriors Sheik Carino poked the ball away from Flores in the opening minutes but missed the fast break lay-up that would have given the Warriors the lead still trailing 56-55. St. Paul never led in the overtime.
St. John’s quickly changed the pace of the game holding the ball for 40+ seconds bringing the game clock to its final minute while hanging on to a 58-57 before the last second scramble.
The Knights were down by as many as seven points to begin the fourth quarter after a dominating performance by Warriors’ John San Andres, who scored eight straight points for his team to put them up 49-43 with four minutes in the game. San Andres finished with 20 points.
Knights’ Daniel Del Carmen kept his team in the game by hitting back-to-back three pointers during San Andres’ scoring stretch, not allowing the Warriors to run away with the game.
Knights center Reed Meyer was asked if beating the Warriors in the regular season gave them confidence to win and Meyer responded saying, “This was a brand new game, we knew they were going to come out for blood. We just needed to make sure we responded.”
St. John’s trailed by as many as 10 points in the game which was the halftime score 25-15. Del Carmen chipped in with 13 points for the Knights while Carino finished with 21 points to lead the Warriors.
The top seeded Friars also took a spill which will set up a championship game featuring the St. John’s Knights and the Okkodo Bulldogs.
The championship game can be seen in its entirety live on Saturday March 16, streaming directly from the website GSPN! (www.guamsportsnetwork.com)
BULLDOGS HEAD TO FINALS
By Regina Shiroma
Friars’ Jonathan Onedera defends the three point shot from Bulldogs’ Aaron Blaz. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)
They had the best record all season, and on paper, they looked like they had the win in the bag. They were bigger and stronger, but in a night of upsets, the Okkodo Bulldogs overthrew the top-ranked FD Friars 62-45 in their semifinal bout Thursday night at the JFK gym.
“It feels good to finally beat that top team. Even though they were way bigger than us, we knew we could fight; we could put up a game with them,” said Okkodo’s Aaron Blaz who was a big defensive help throughout the game.
After five lead changes and three ties, the Bulldogs began to pull away with less than four minutes left on the clock. Tied at 41-all, Bulldog’s Joseph Ruppen dropped in a layup and on his way down was fouled. Ruppen made the and-one shot and the Bulldogs took off from there. With one minute, forty left in regulation, Okkodo’s Keeno Madrazo took a wide open shot at the three that had the northern school’s fans jumping to their feet, holding three fingers in the air as the ball swished through the net. Now leading 49-43, the fans became more antsy as the end came near. The Friars saw some life when Christian Chang scored a quick basket off an inbound play, however this would be the last basket of the game they’d make with one and a half minutes left.
Scrambling for the ball, FD committed numerous fouls giving the Bulldogs five opportunities at the line. Going 10 for 11, Okkodo jumped ahead 59-45 with 30 seconds left. Sensing the victory, the Okkodo crowd began to cheer for their team. Blaz intercepted a pass and converted the layup to seal the deal. And for the icing on the cake Garren Reyes scored their last points of the game right before the buzzer went off.
McDonald’s Defensive Player of the Game: Bulldogs’ Aaron Blaz. 11 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, 3 assists
McDonald’s Offensive Player of the Game: Bulldogs’ Joseph Ruppen. 24 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Blaz proved to be a defensive threat tallying five steals (three in the fourth quarter) and grabbing six rebounds.
“The coaches told me every time out, entering the half, ‘Just move your feet, work on that D.’ In my mind I was like, I don’t care about scoring, I want to play D for the team,” said Blaz.
On the other side of the ball, Ruppen was a thorn in the side of FD’s defense. Ruppen led with a game high of 24 points, including three and-one plays.
“We’re going to practice hard, get lots of rest and hopefully…win,” said Ruppen after the game.
The Bulldogs will face the St. Johns Knights in Saturday’s championship game at the UOG Field House at 7P.M. Watch live video streaming of the game from the GSPN website!
Knights slay Warriors in overtime
BY MIKE NAUTA JR. | VARIETY NEWS STAFF
St. John's School Knights’ Argie Flores drains a clutch 3-pointer during last night's IIAAG semifinals playoff basketball game against the St. Paul Christian School Warriors at JFK's gym in Upper Tumon. The Knights defeated the Warriors 60-57 in overtime. Photo by Matt Weiss / Variety
Earns championship berth
THE John F. Kennedy High School gymnasium was packed with a loud and boisterous crowd as the IIAAG High School Boys' Basketball League boiled down to its final four teams. With only two slots in the championship game, last night's semifinal action determined who would eventually advance.
In the first of two games, the St. John's Knights battled against the St. Paul Warriors in a very heated and exciting game that needed overtime to decide a winner. At the sound of the game's final buzzer, it was the Knights who earned their right to the title match after earning a 60-57 victory.
"It was a really tough and hard-fought match by both teams. We just needed to execute and play hard all the way through," said Knights coach Fred Peters. "Tremendous display of heart by our boys, despite trailing for much of the game, they continued to battle."
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Knights found themselves trailing 53-46. However, the deficit didn't deter the boys from continuing to put up a fight. A converted jumper by Argie Flores and a made free throw by Reed Meyer made it a four-point game. The Warriors weren't able to secure the game after missing back-to-back opportunities.
With less than a minute in regulation, Meyer dropped a shot to make it a 53-51 game. The Warriors' Adrian Manasala converted one of two free throws to put his team up by three. On the ensuing possession, Flores dialed in from way downtown and nailed a 3 to equalize the game at 54-54. The clock struck zero, eventually sending the game into an extra period.
"We didn't allow ourselves to give up, we worked so hard and we just couldn't throw it all away," Flores said.
Overtime
After being shut out almost the entire game, Flores wasted no time starting the overtime period as he sank a layup to give his team a 56-54 lead. St. Paul's Sheik Carino managed to make a free throw to make it a one-point game. Both teams played aggressively on both ends of the floor and neither allowed the other a chance to score.
With less than a minute left in the extra period, Flores hit two crucial shots from the charity stripe, giving his team a three-point lead. The Warriors responded immediately as Carino drove his way to the basket to make it a 58-57 game with seconds on the clock.
On the inbounds, the Knights temporarily lost the ball until Thaddeus "TJ" Atalig nabbed it back and cruised to the other end for the easy layup that sealed the victory and spot in championship game.
"It's a feeling I can't describe, but making it to the championship game is only the first part. We still have to play one more game," Atalig said.
From the start of the game, the Warriors controlled the tempo and manned the boards efficiently. Led by the hot shooting of Tito Canovas and John San Andres, St. Paul closed out the opening quarter holding a 16-9 lead. Later in the second period, the Knights' woes continued as the Warriors relied on their box and one defense to create opportunities for points. As the half came to a close, the Knights’ deficit grew to 25-15.
Whatever was discussed at the halftime break proved to work for the Knights. At the start of the third period, the Knights were sizzling as they opened the first two minutes with a 12-2 run capped by a trey from Daniel Del Carmen. After exchanging blows for the remainder of the quarter, the Warriors saw their once double-digit lead turn into a (39-35) four-point game after three.
"No matter who we play in the championship, it's going to be about working hard and staying confident. It's my last year so I hope to end it with a sweet victory," Atalig said.
St John's to Finals
St. John's Argie Flores, dribbling around the St. Paul defense, would hit a big shot to send the semifinal game into overtime, where the Knights would win and advance to Saturday's finals against the Okkodo Bulldogs.
Knights vs. Bulldogs for title: St. Pauls falls to underdog St. John's
Written by
Julian North
For the Pacific Daily News
The Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam Boys' Basketball League was down to its final four Tuesday night as two semifinal games were held at JFK.
In the first matchup of the evening, St. Paul Christian School Warriors looked to avoid an upset as they faced a dangerous St. John's School team. It was a game for the ages with all the intensity and drama associated with playoff basketball.
The Knights recovered from a 25-15 deficit at halftime to defeat the Warriors 60-57 in overtime.
The Warriors came out on a clear mission to be the quicker team, and the strategy paid dividends as they were first to most loose balls and had a large advantage in fast-break points. Offensively, the Warriors were led by their dynamic duo of guards in Sheik Cariño and Tito Canovas, who paced the team with a combined 18 first-half points.
Defensively, Warriors center John San Andres dominated the paint, swatting or altering numerous shots while also chipping in offensively.
The tables turned in the third quarter when the Knights changed from their penetrating style of play and opted for a perimeter-based attack. The results seemed instantaneous as the Knights drained a trio of three-point baskets in the period en route to erasing the Warriors' lead.
The Knights took their first lead of the game late in the period when forward Reed Meyer snagged an offensive rebound and converted a tough layup that brought the score to 32-31.
The Warriors rebounded and finished the quarter strong, taking a 39-35 lead into the final period of regulation.
In the early minutes of the fourth quarter, Cariño and Canovas played the role of facilitators to the Warriors' offense, moving the ball to open space and finding open teammates for easy shots. With their offense back on track, the Warriors were able to keep the Knights at bay for most of the period.
But the intensity skyrocketed in the waning minutes and, after a layup by Meyer, the Knights only trailed by two points with under a minute remaining.
The Knights fouled on the next possession. The fouled player was shook up and unable to shoot his free throws, so reserve Adrian Manansala was inserted and made one of two, which pushed the Warriors' lead to three points with seconds remaining.
Knights' guard Argie Flores received the inbound pass and raced up court, dribbled off of a screen and, with his team's season in the balance, pulled up and drained a three-pointer to tie the game at 54-54 and force overtime.
"It felt good. With all the emotions of the game and the fans, I thank God it wasn't the last shot of my career," Flores said.
Flores scored the first basket of overtime on a fast-break layup.
The Warriors missed a couple free throw attempts and Cariño had a game-tying free throw waved off due to a lane violation. In the final seconds, Cariño sliced through the defense to make a layup and cut the Knights' lead to just one point.
On the inbounds, the Warriors pressured the ball handler and forced a turnover, but before they could convert the turnover, the Knights' Thaddeus Atalig got a steal and flew down court for a game-sealing layup as time expired.
The Bulldogs will face the Knights Friday for the championship. The third-place game will feature the Friars and the Warriors.
Bulldogs get revenge win over Friars
Written by
Jay Leon Guerrero
For the Pacific Daily News
The Okkodo Bulldogs got revenge from last year and used a huge fourth quarter to eliminate the Father Duenas Friars last night, 62-45, in the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam Boys' Basketball League playoffs at the John F. Kennedy High School gym.
The Bulldogs will next face the red-hot St. John's Knights for the championship game, set for Friday.
The Bulldogs started the game by denying league MVP Michael Sakazaki the opportunity to get a shot off. The Bulldogs had two defenders on him in the first quarter, which freed up guards Nicolas Aglubat and John Baza to hit three-pointers in the opening minutes, giving the Friars an early 8-2 lead. Bulldog point guard Joel Oyardo would roar back with a couple of mid-range jumpers to pull Okkodo to within a point after the first quarter, 14-13.
Joseph Ruppen came off the bench to ignite the Bulldogs to a 21-17 lead in the second quarter, but FD seniors Baza and Sakazaki put on a run to close out the half with a 27-26 lead.
The Bulldogs inside duo of Ruppen and Garren Reyes would make buckets and convert foul shots to put their team up by nine points midway thru the third quarter.
The Friars' Jeremiah Taitano tipped in a missed shot at the buzzer to cut the deficit in half. Father Duenas trailed by two points going into the final period.
Jason Santos' three-point shot put the Friars up 41-39, but that would be their last lead of the game.
Oyardo orchestrated an offensive explosive that put the Bulldogs in front for good. Ruppen converted on a three-point play and Keeno Madrazo hit a three-pointer from the corner to get the Bulldog fans on their feet.
Blaz and Ruppen made steals and converted layups to close the door on the Friars with under a minute to play. The Bulldogs ran out the clock for the victory.
"I'm just proud of the boys. Everyone did their job out there," an emotional Blaz said after the game. Blaz was a part of last year's team, which was eliminated in the semi-final round by the Friars.
Blaz, a senior, had 15 points and four steals for the Bulldogs. Baza led the Friars with 13 points, Sakazaki chipped in with seven points and eight rebounds. Ruppen led all scorers with 25 points and made 10 of 11 shots from the free-throw line.
Knights slay Warriors in overtime
BY MIKE NAUTA JR. | VARIETY NEWS STAFF
St. John's School Knights’ Argie Flores drains a clutch 3-pointer during last night's IIAAG semifinals playoff basketball game against the St. Paul Christian School Warriors at JFK's gym in Upper Tumon. The Knights defeated the Warriors 60-57 in overtime. Photo by Matt Weiss / Variety
Earns championship berth
THE John F. Kennedy High School gymnasium was packed with a loud and boisterous crowd as the IIAAG High School Boys' Basketball League boiled down to its final four teams. With only two slots in the championship game, last night's semifinal action determined who would eventually advance.
In the first of two games, the St. John's Knights battled against the St. Paul Warriors in a very heated and exciting game that needed overtime to decide a winner. At the sound of the game's final buzzer, it was the Knights who earned their right to the title match after earning a 60-57 victory.
"It was a really tough and hard-fought match by both teams. We just needed to execute and play hard all the way through," said Knights coach Fred Peters. "Tremendous display of heart by our boys, despite trailing for much of the game, they continued to battle."
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Knights found themselves trailing 53-46. However, the deficit didn't deter the boys from continuing to put up a fight. A converted jumper by Argie Flores and a made free throw by Reed Meyer made it a four-point game. The Warriors weren't able to secure the game after missing back-to-back opportunities.
With less than a minute in regulation, Meyer dropped a shot to make it a 53-51 game. The Warriors' Adrian Manasala converted one of two free throws to put his team up by three. On the ensuing possession, Flores dialed in from way downtown and nailed a 3 to equalize the game at 54-54. The clock struck zero, eventually sending the game into an extra period.
"We didn't allow ourselves to give up, we worked so hard and we just couldn't throw it all away," Flores said.
Overtime
After being shut out almost the entire game, Flores wasted no time starting the overtime period as he sank a layup to give his team a 56-54 lead. St. Paul's Sheik Carino managed to make a free throw to make it a one-point game. Both teams played aggressively on both ends of the floor and neither allowed the other a chance to score.
With less than a minute left in the extra period, Flores hit two crucial shots from the charity stripe, giving his team a three-point lead. The Warriors responded immediately as Carino drove his way to the basket to make it a 58-57 game with seconds on the clock.
On the inbounds, the Knights temporarily lost the ball until Thaddeus "TJ" Atalig nabbed it back and cruised to the other end for the easy layup that sealed the victory and spot in championship game.
"It's a feeling I can't describe, but making it to the championship game is only the first part. We still have to play one more game," Atalig said.
From the start of the game, the Warriors controlled the tempo and manned the boards efficiently. Led by the hot shooting of Tito Canovas and John San Andres, St. Paul closed out the opening quarter holding a 16-9 lead. Later in the second period, the Knights' woes continued as the Warriors relied on their box and one defense to create opportunities for points. As the half came to a close, the Knights’ deficit grew to 25-15.
Whatever was discussed at the halftime break proved to work for the Knights. At the start of the third period, the Knights were sizzling as they opened the first two minutes with a 12-2 run capped by a trey from Daniel Del Carmen. After exchanging blows for the remainder of the quarter, the Warriors saw their once double-digit lead turn into a (39-35) four-point game after three.
"No matter who we play in the championship, it's going to be about working hard and staying confident. It's my last year so I hope to end it with a sweet victory," Atalig said.
KNIGHTS WIN OT THRILLER
By Robert Balajadia
Warriors Sheik Carino and Knights Argie Flores fighting for the loose ball in the closing seconds of the game which turned out to be a fast break layup by Knights TJ Atalig. (photo by Jesse Castro)
St. John’s Argie Flores has hit many big shots for the Knights all season but none bigger than the three-pointer that sent them into overtime where the Knights defeated the St. Paul Warriors 60-57 at the JFK gym Tuesday night, advancing them to the championship game this Saturday.
Warriors Brian Tsujii was fouled by Knights Reed Meyer when trying to steal the ball with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Warriors up 53-51. Tsujii was unable to shoot the free throws leaving Warriors Adrian Manansala at the line to ice the game. Manansala missed the first and made the second extending the lead 54-51.
Flores took the inbound pass after the timeout and knew from the minute he stepped on the court that the shot was his to make. Teammate TJ Atalig set a high screen that Flores used to get a good enough look at a shot, letting the three-pointer fly between two Warriors defenders and sinking it with 5.5 seconds left on the clock. Flores ecstatically clenched his fists and roared at the Knights crowd in excitement. Flores led all scorers with 24 points.
McDonald’s player of the game: Knights’ Argie Flores. 23 points
“Coach always tells me to take the best available shot and [TJ] gave me a good screen which opened me up. I just pulled up and it felt good when I shot it and it sank in. Coach put the ball in my hands and tells me that it’s my team and I have to carry them so I figured the best possible shot was that one right there,” stated Flores on the biggest shot of the game.
The overtime was much like the closing seconds of the fourth quarter with both teams scraping for points in a very physical game.
St. John’s were holding on to a 58-57 lead with 12 seconds left in the overtime when the Warriors turned to John San Andres in the post where Meyer and teammate Cedric Sevilla managed to swipe the ball away.
Flores took the ball off the blocked shot but was met by Warriors’ Sheik Carino immediately, who poked the ball away which forced a scramble. Carino gained control but before he could dish it off to his teammate Flores stuck his hand underneath the ball, knocking it away to a wide open Atalig who sprinted to the bucket for the game ending layup as the buzzer expired.
Knights Reed Meyer and Cedric Sevilla denying Warriors John San Andres an easy layup that would have given the Warriors the lead in overtime. (photo by Jesse Castro)
“I was just trying to find myself in a better position to recover after that quick turnover. I saw that [Carino] was struggling on the floor with the ball and the path was just open and I just took it. I thought I got fouled on the layup and I didn’t know the game was over but I was happy that the game was over,” stated Atalig on the game sealing layup.
The Knights carried the momentum into the overtime with Flores scoring the first basket. Warriors Sheik Carino poked the ball away from Flores in the opening minutes but missed the fast break lay-up that would have given the Warriors the lead still trailing 56-55. St. Paul never led in the overtime.
St. John’s quickly changed the pace of the game holding the ball for 40+ seconds bringing the game clock to its final minute while hanging on to a 58-57 before the last second scramble.
The Knights were down by as many as seven points to begin the fourth quarter after a dominating performance by Warriors’ John San Andres, who scored eight straight points for his team to put them up 49-43 with four minutes in the game. San Andres finished with 20 points.
Knights’ Daniel Del Carmen kept his team in the game by hitting back-to-back three pointers during San Andres’ scoring stretch, not allowing the Warriors to run away with the game.
Knights center Reed Meyer was asked if beating the Warriors in the regular season gave them confidence to win and Meyer responded saying, “This was a brand new game, we knew they were going to come out for blood. We just needed to make sure we responded.”
St. John’s trailed by as many as 10 points in the game which was the halftime score 25-15. Del Carmen chipped in with 13 points for the Knights while Carino finished with 21 points to lead the Warriors.
The top seeded Friars also took a spill which will set up a championship game featuring the St. John’s Knights and the Okkodo Bulldogs.
The championship game can be seen in its entirety live on Saturday March 16, streaming directly from the website GSPN! (www.guamsportsnetwork.com)
BULLDOGS HEAD TO FINALS
By Regina Shiroma
Friars’ Jonathan Onedera defends the three point shot from Bulldogs’ Aaron Blaz. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)
They had the best record all season, and on paper, they looked like they had the win in the bag. They were bigger and stronger, but in a night of upsets, the Okkodo Bulldogs overthrew the top-ranked FD Friars 62-45 in their semifinal bout Thursday night at the JFK gym.
“It feels good to finally beat that top team. Even though they were way bigger than us, we knew we could fight; we could put up a game with them,” said Okkodo’s Aaron Blaz who was a big defensive help throughout the game.
After five lead changes and three ties, the Bulldogs began to pull away with less than four minutes left on the clock. Tied at 41-all, Bulldog’s Joseph Ruppen dropped in a layup and on his way down was fouled. Ruppen made the and-one shot and the Bulldogs took off from there. With one minute, forty left in regulation, Okkodo’s Keeno Madrazo took a wide open shot at the three that had the northern school’s fans jumping to their feet, holding three fingers in the air as the ball swished through the net. Now leading 49-43, the fans became more antsy as the end came near. The Friars saw some life when Christian Chang scored a quick basket off an inbound play, however this would be the last basket of the game they’d make with one and a half minutes left.
Scrambling for the ball, FD committed numerous fouls giving the Bulldogs five opportunities at the line. Going 10 for 11, Okkodo jumped ahead 59-45 with 30 seconds left. Sensing the victory, the Okkodo crowd began to cheer for their team. Blaz intercepted a pass and converted the layup to seal the deal. And for the icing on the cake Garren Reyes scored their last points of the game right before the buzzer went off.
McDonald’s Defensive Player of the Game: Bulldogs’ Aaron Blaz. 11 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, 3 assists
McDonald’s Offensive Player of the Game: Bulldogs’ Joseph Ruppen. 24 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Blaz proved to be a defensive threat tallying five steals (three in the fourth quarter) and grabbing six rebounds.
“The coaches told me every time out, entering the half, ‘Just move your feet, work on that D.’ In my mind I was like, I don’t care about scoring, I want to play D for the team,” said Blaz.
On the other side of the ball, Ruppen was a thorn in the side of FD’s defense. Ruppen led with a game high of 24 points, including three and-one plays.
“We’re going to practice hard, get lots of rest and hopefully…win,” said Ruppen after the game.
The Bulldogs will face the St. Johns Knights in Saturday’s championship game at the UOG Field House at 7P.M. Watch live video streaming of the game from the GSPN website!
Knights slay Warriors in overtime
BY MIKE NAUTA JR. | VARIETY NEWS STAFF
St. John's School Knights’ Argie Flores drains a clutch 3-pointer during last night's IIAAG semifinals playoff basketball game against the St. Paul Christian School Warriors at JFK's gym in Upper Tumon. The Knights defeated the Warriors 60-57 in overtime. Photo by Matt Weiss / Variety
Earns championship berth
THE John F. Kennedy High School gymnasium was packed with a loud and boisterous crowd as the IIAAG High School Boys' Basketball League boiled down to its final four teams. With only two slots in the championship game, last night's semifinal action determined who would eventually advance.
In the first of two games, the St. John's Knights battled against the St. Paul Warriors in a very heated and exciting game that needed overtime to decide a winner. At the sound of the game's final buzzer, it was the Knights who earned their right to the title match after earning a 60-57 victory.
"It was a really tough and hard-fought match by both teams. We just needed to execute and play hard all the way through," said Knights coach Fred Peters. "Tremendous display of heart by our boys, despite trailing for much of the game, they continued to battle."
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Knights found themselves trailing 53-46. However, the deficit didn't deter the boys from continuing to put up a fight. A converted jumper by Argie Flores and a made free throw by Reed Meyer made it a four-point game. The Warriors weren't able to secure the game after missing back-to-back opportunities.
With less than a minute in regulation, Meyer dropped a shot to make it a 53-51 game. The Warriors' Adrian Manasala converted one of two free throws to put his team up by three. On the ensuing possession, Flores dialed in from way downtown and nailed a 3 to equalize the game at 54-54. The clock struck zero, eventually sending the game into an extra period.
"We didn't allow ourselves to give up, we worked so hard and we just couldn't throw it all away," Flores said.
Overtime
After being shut out almost the entire game, Flores wasted no time starting the overtime period as he sank a layup to give his team a 56-54 lead. St. Paul's Sheik Carino managed to make a free throw to make it a one-point game. Both teams played aggressively on both ends of the floor and neither allowed the other a chance to score.
With less than a minute left in the extra period, Flores hit two crucial shots from the charity stripe, giving his team a three-point lead. The Warriors responded immediately as Carino drove his way to the basket to make it a 58-57 game with seconds on the clock.
On the inbounds, the Knights temporarily lost the ball until Thaddeus "TJ" Atalig nabbed it back and cruised to the other end for the easy layup that sealed the victory and spot in championship game.
"It's a feeling I can't describe, but making it to the championship game is only the first part. We still have to play one more game," Atalig said.
From the start of the game, the Warriors controlled the tempo and manned the boards efficiently. Led by the hot shooting of Tito Canovas and John San Andres, St. Paul closed out the opening quarter holding a 16-9 lead. Later in the second period, the Knights' woes continued as the Warriors relied on their box and one defense to create opportunities for points. As the half came to a close, the Knights’ deficit grew to 25-15.
Whatever was discussed at the halftime break proved to work for the Knights. At the start of the third period, the Knights were sizzling as they opened the first two minutes with a 12-2 run capped by a trey from Daniel Del Carmen. After exchanging blows for the remainder of the quarter, the Warriors saw their once double-digit lead turn into a (39-35) four-point game after three.
"No matter who we play in the championship, it's going to be about working hard and staying confident. It's my last year so I hope to end it with a sweet victory," Atalig said.