GUAM TURNS TABLES ON CNMI

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By Robert Balajadia

CNMI’s Glorily Williams recovered a lose ball from Guam’s Destiny Castro. (photo by Jose Perez)

The Women’s CNMI basketball team only trailed Guam 27-22 at the half, but a dominant third quarter by Alina Bonto gave Guam a much needed push to defeat CNMI 62-38 to remain the only unbeaten team in the Women’s division of the 2013 Micronesia Basketball Tournament.

Guam came out cold in the third quarter going on a scoreless two-minute drought before Bonto broke the ice with a left-hand layup.

She went on to score the first five points for Guam in the quarter which sparked a 22-6 run to give Guam the 49-28 lead after three.  She finished with a game high 19 points.

“Our coach drew up different plays and told us to execute better.  He asked us, ‘it more’ and of course we had to live up to his standards.  [CNMI] did really well, they got so much better than last year and they were really aggressive,” stated Bonto on the teams second half adjustments.

Bonto did more than live up to the ‘who want’s it more’ expression by diving for every loose ball and battling for every rebound.  Guam continued the streak by outscoring CNMI in the fourth quarter to win the game 62-38.

Destiny Castro added 16 points for Guam while Rachel Abrams, Jaime Mendoza, Glorily Williams all had eight points for CNMI.

(WOMEN’S) PALAU 59, U16 GUAM 33

Team Palau won the battle of the winless teams Wednesday night against a Guam U16 team who continues to struggle.  Trang Ksano led Palau in scoring with a game high 18 points.  Guam struggled in the third quarter scoring just four points to Palau’s 22 points.  Guam drops to 0-3 in the tournament while Palau improves to 1-2.

TOURNAMENT RECAPS:

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

TOURNAMENT RECORDS:

Men’s:

Guam U19  (3-0)

Palau  (1-1)

Guam U16 (1-1)

CNMI (0-3)

Women’s

Guam U19 (3-0)

CNMI (2-1)

Palau (1-2)

Guam U16 (0-3)

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Guam’s Justine Yeban looks for an opening to the basket. (photo by Jose Perez)

Guam’s Gemile Iiao driving base line to the basket. (photo by Jose Perez)

CNMI’s Jaime Mendoza has an open path to the basket. (photo by Jose Perez)

CNMI’s Geraldine Castillo shoots the jumper over Guam’s Alina Bonto. (photo by Jose Perez)

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