By Kolby Chang

The FD Friars cruised to another win after dominating the Sanchez Sharks 65-48 in the IIAAG Boys’ Basketball League Tuesday night at the FD Phoenix Center. The Friars have yet to lose consecutive games this season as they have bounced from close losses to the Southern High Dolphins and Guam High Panthers, respectively, with blowout victories.

After falling to the undefeated Panthers in double overtime last Saturday, it was apparent from the first few minutes of the game that the Friars were looking to firmly reestablish themselves as a contender for the high school title by never giving the visiting team any breathing room.

David Sakazaki got the Friars on the board first with a put back and Bruce Merrill followed that up with a layup and the foul. Merrill buried the free throw to complete the old fashioned three-point play that put his team up 5-0.

The Sharks’ John Buan answered with a short jumper in the paint to make it 5-2 but those were the only points the Yigo school was going to score the entire quarter. The Friars went on a 7-0 run that was capped by a coast-to-coast layup by Nick Clark that forced Sharks’ coach Jin Han to call for time.

The Friars did not let off the gas as Noel Carlos swished a three ball only a few seconds into the second quarter to put the home team up 22-4. The Sharks’ Dominic Garcia responded with a three-pointer of his own but the Friars’ Tyler Okiyama came off the bench and answered right back with a triple.

Sharks’ John Buan sank this long jumper just as time ran out for the half adding two for his team. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Garcia knocked down his second three-pointer of the game several plays later to make it 25-13 but the Friars had an answer for every run the Sharks attempted as Carlos also hit another three ball.In addition, the Friars showed some good defensive instincts as they were able to quickly recover whenever the Sharks tried to run screens. This forced the visitors to rely on isolation plays that seemed to stall the offense.

It was more of the same in the third quarter as Tristan Jose opened the second half with a three-pointer. Jose then found his way into the lane on a strong baseline drive and hit the layup plus the foul that made the score 39-20.

The Friars broke 60 point mark late in the fourth quarter when Troy Corpuz received a cross court pass, pump faked his defender and nailed the layup with the contact. Corpuz then sank the free throw for the three-point play that put his team up 61-38.

Merrill lead the Friars with 12 points, while Carlos added 10 points and Nicolas Aglubat chipped in nine points. Roy Taimanglo and Jose finished with five points, respectively.

Buan’s game-high 20 points paced the Sharks, while Garcia had 10 points and Anthony Castro scored eight points.

Other Scores

JFK 68, GW 52 – (JFK) Kurtis Silva 27 pts, 5 stls, 3 ast. (JFK) Billy Belger 17 points – five three pointers
Southern 48, St. John’s 42 – (SHS) Dominic Diego 14 pts, 5 reb. (SHS) Ryan Teologo 10 pts. (SJS) Brian Kim 11 pts, 5 rebs.
Guam High 69, Harvest 36
Okkodo 71, Notre Dame 37

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Sharks’ Anthony Castro loses control of the ball to Friars’ Ajay Sadhuani. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Sharks’ John Buan grabbed the bricked Friar shot and tried to capitalize on the rebound. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Friars’ Noel “Bien” Carlos fired the ball off and nets three points for his team. (photo by Jesse Castro)

After receiving the rebound, Friars’ Bruce Merrill drives the ball into Sharks’ territory. (photo by Jesse Castro)

Sharks’ John Buan made his way into the lane and attempts for two. (photo by Jesse Castro)