GSPN PRE-SEASON BOYS TOURNEY DAY 3

By Robert Balajadia

We’ve reached the final game of the evening, check in with all the latest tourney info here!

Okkodo 71, ND 46

Karl Melencio and led the Bulldogs well-rounded scoring effort with 12 points as Okkodo advances to 2-0 in the tournament’s early goings. The Bulldogs have won top seed of their pool and will play the JFK Islanders at 5:40 pm Sunday in what is sure to be a stellar game.

Roland Balajadia led the Royals with 13 points in the loss.

Royals Roland Balajadia drives to the rim for two of his game high 14 points. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Guam High 68, Tiyan 37 

The Panthers rebounded nicely from their Thursday night loss to the Warriors with a dominating performance against the new comer Tiyan Titans.

Panthers Rodney Taitague scored 17 points in the game to lead the Panthers balanced effort.

Panther Rodney Taitague gathers for a leaping layup in the second half. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

JFK 83, GW 49

JFK Islanders Billy Belger scored 12 of his 18 points in the 1st quarter going a perfect 4-4 from the three-point line. Belger capped off the Islanders hot start with a three pointer from the left wing to put JFK up 18-2 in the first four minutes. JFK then got a total team effort to keep the lead at double digits for the remainder of the game.

Geckos lost starter Josh McCarrol midway through the contest to an injury and he was out of action for the remainder of the day.

Islanders Billy Belger lighting it up early as they lead the Geckos in the first half. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

St. Paul 63, Harvest 48

Harvest Eagles guard Kobe Sotelo had the Eagles in it early on, but the Warriors big-man John San Andres took over in the 4th period to pull away from a scrappy Eagles team.

San Andres led the Warriors with 24 points while Eagels Sotelo and Eeland Wilter had 12 points each.

Warriors Angelo Rhodes flies in for an easy score. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

St. John’s 64, Guam High 61 – GAME OF THE DAY

The St. John’s Knights battled back from a double-digit deficit to best the Guam High Panthers in the last afternoon game. Arvin Flores led the Knights with 16 points as St. John’s trailed by 10 points 57-47 with under four minutes to go before starting the comeback.

Knights Arvin Flores hit a running jumper to start the run, and hit another bucket off a dish from Min to cut the lead to five. A single free-throw by Min and Tony Hseih cut the lead to 57-53 before Min found Simon on the wing to cut the lead 57-56. Flores then got a steal on the inbounds and got fouled hitting both free throws to give the Knights their first lead of the second half.

Arvin Flores finds an opening in the Panthers defense. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Flores then found Simon in the corner for another three to go up 61-57. Guam High got a free throws from Rodney Taitague to cut the lead 62-59 until Min got a break away score off an inbound pass from Hseih to go up 64-57.

Panthers Russell Rizzo nailed a floating jumper with under 20 seconds left and the Panthers forced a turnover on the inbound as De’Andre Richardson flew into the scorers table to save the ball, giving teammate Kurt Edusada a good look at a game-tying shot, but the three clanked off the rim to give the Knights their first win in the tourney.

FD 72 vs. ND 48

The Friars were welcoming back their seniors who missed Friday nights game due to a senior retreat and the offense had trouble settling into the game early on. FD locked in on defense in the second half allowing the Royals to get no closer than 13 points.

Friars Tristan Jose lead all scorers with 20 points and teammates Gino Aquino and Justin Dimla had 12 points each. Royals Roland Balajadia finished with 12 points to lead ND.

GW 62, Sanchez 56

A close contest through out, the Geckos pulled away late after the Sharks managed to capture their first lead of the second half 37-35. Geckos Devin San Agustin hit a clutch three-pointer in the 4th quarter as GW managed to hold off a late Sharks run.

San Agustin finished 21 points to lead all scorers and teammate Mathew Soto chipped in with 10 points before fouling out. John Buan led the Sharks in scoring with 23 points and running mate Anthony Castro scored 16 to conclude the evening.