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By Robert Balajadia

Typhoons II Morgan Aiken moved around the N.O.V.A’s defense for the layup. (photo by Jesse Castro)

A late game blunder almost cost Team N.O.V.A. the game as they squeezed by the Tamuning Typhoons II 54-53 in the 18 plus Men’s Varsity division of the Annual Summer Jam Basketball League at the Tamuning Gym.

Stephen Yates led N.O.V.A. in scoring with 23 points, including four three pointers, but a late miss at the free-throw line gave the Typhoons a chance to tie the game trailing 54-51 with less than 20 seconds left to play.

Typhoons leading scorer Morgan Aiken quickly sprinted up the court and got past the N.O.V.A. defense, laying in a smooth left-hand layup to cut the lead 54-53 with the less than 10 seconds on the clock.  Aiken finished with 15 points.

N.O.V.A. inbounded the ball but instead of waiting for the foul to come they tried to send the ball up court when Typhoons Sammy Setik picked off a poor pass near half court and launched a 30-foot desperation three pointer that missed.  Teammate Kal-el Delos Santos grabbed the offensive rebound but was not able to get the shot up as time expired.

“It was a great game to be a part of.  [Sammy] stole that ball as we through it away but we just prayed ‘don’t go in.’  It was too hard fought and nobody wants to lose

McDonald’s Player of the Game Stephen Yates led NOVA with 23 points.

that game so it was a little bit of luck on our end,” stated Yates on the dramatic final minute.

The score was tied at 32 at halftime and no team could break away from the other with N.O.V.A. holding the largest lead of the game, which was five points.  Delos

Santos hit a three-pointer in to give the Typhoons the lead 47-45 but Yates answered back with his fourth three of the game to tie it at 48.

N.O.V.A.’s Jorge Paxtian aided in the late lead hitting back-to-back buckets to give his squad the 50-48 lead as well as a 52-48 cushion.  Aiken scored the final five points for the Typhoons which came in the final minute.

N.O.V.A. lost player Josh Madrid early in the second half who appeared to be holding his knee after an awkward spill as he drove uncontested to the basket.

The 18 plus Men’s Varsity division games will resume Sunday, July 7.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

N.O.V.A.’s Jorge Paxtian tipped the ball back to the hoop after gaining control of the rebound from Typhoons’ Kal-el Delso Santos. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Typhoons’ Alfredo Royster shot the short jumper over N.O.V.A.’s Joaquin Charfauros. (photo by Jesse Castro)

N.O.V.A.’s Joaquin Charfauros moved in for the layup after a fast break to the hoop. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Typhoons II Dezdin Fikes and N.O.V.A.’s Jay Casimiro reached up to take control of the rebound. (photo by Jesse Castro)

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