TYPHOONS II SET FOR GHC FINALS

By Robert Balajadia

Tamuning Typhoons II’s William Stinnett put on a show Sunday night against the Andersen Bombers netting 34 points in a close 69-64 win over the Bombers in the Golden Hoops Classic’s semifinals match.

“Once it starts clicking you just want to attack the basket and keep shooting,” said Stinnett on his stellar performance. “It feels good to be in the zone and I’m out of shape so it got a little tough at the end. At least we won, it wouldn’t feel as good if hand’t won.”

The win catapults the Typhoons II into the championship game next Sunday who will face the winner of the Bombers and Typhoons I in the losers bracket.

The game was close throughout, and the Typhoons got a healthy helping from Stinnett in the second half where he refused to let the Bombers take a multiple possession lead.

Leading 45-39, Stinnett drained a deep three pointer that forced the Bombers to take a timeout to try and cool off Stinnett’s hot hand.

Andersen then responded quickly shaving the Typhoons lead to just two, 48-46, after a three pointer and floater in the lane by Ledget Glover. The Bombers then took the lead 52-49 to cap off a 13-2 run after a transition bucket by Brian Cooper.

Stinnett responded with layup through contact off a fast break dish from teammate Vince Estella to take a 53-52 lead.

Ollie Bradley hit an open three pointer from the right wing to tie the game at 55 a couple of possessions later, but Stinnett drained a spot-up three pointer on the following possession.

Andersen buckled down on defense and forced the Typhoons into two bad turnovers that allowed the Bombers to take a 59-58 lead. Then the Typhoons found a wide open James Stake in the corner to recapture the lead 61-59 with a little over a minute left in the game.

Typhoons II Williams Stinnett gets a two handed block on Andersen Bombers’ big man Frederick Jones. (GSPN photo)

Tied at 61 with under a minute left to play, the Typhoons turned to Stinnett once again who tried to bury a deep three pointer, but missed wide left. The Bombers had trouble securing the rebound and Earvin Jose took full advantage by making a heads up defensive steal that left him wide open to lace up a three pointer right in front the his teams bench.

Jose knocked down the deep ball to give the Typhoons II the 64-61 lead which they managed to hold on to thanks to late game free throws from Seve Susuico.

“They are one of the best teams in the league so every time we  meet up it’s going to be a hard game. It’s 50-50 every time we play and today we were both on and we just came out with the win. In the end, we just hit a couple of more shots than they did,” said Stinnett on facing a gritty Andersen squad.

Typhoons I 87, Team Justice 57

Team Justice’s Bradley Aflague gets swarmed by the defense of Typhoons James Collins and Joe Blas. (GSPN photo)

What started out as a competitive game in the first 15 minutes, turned into a one-sided affair after Typhoons I Joe Blas and J.P. Cruz got it going.

Blas and Cruz both finished with 26 points to lead the Typhoons I, but it wasn’t until Blas took over late in the first half by scoring eight straight points part of a 12-0 run that allowed the Typhoons to go up 34-19 at the half.

The Second half turned into a three-point shooting exhibition late between Justice’s Bradley Aflague and the rest of the Typhoons. Aflague score majority of his 22 points in that spurt, but the Typhoons sharp shooters in Cruz, Blas, and Derrick Royster rounded out the Typhoons scoring.

Roque Charfauros scored 21 points for Team Justice while Morgan Aiken, James Collins, and Royster all had double-digit points.

*The Typhoons I also defeated the Sticky Bandits 93-75 and will play the Andersen Bombers in the losers bracket.

PHOTO GALLERY:

William Stinnett laces up a three pointer from way behind the line to give the Typhoons II the lead. (GSPN photo)

Andersen Bombers’ Ronnie Jamison takes flight on a transition layup. (GSPN photo)

Typhoons II’s Earvin Jose sinks a much-needed three-pointer against the Andersen Bombers. (GSPN photo)