Connect with us

Basketball

STARS CRUISE PAST BOMBERS IN BATTLE OF THE UNBEATENS

Surprise blowout in undefeated showdown

By Patrick Lujan

Seven players? No problem.

In a much-anticipated showdown between the MVP Stars and KFC Bombers, the Stars jumped out to a huge lead and never looked back, cruising to a 99-77 win Wednesday night in the Tritons Basketball League at the UOG Calvo Field House.

Wendy’s Player of the Game: Joe Blas

Both teams came into the game with 3-0 records after pushing through the competition. After years of succumbing to the Bombers and despite having only seven players suit up, MVP dominated from start to finish led by Joe Blas’ huge 37-point game.

“We have played the Bombers for many years and they’ve always had the advantage of being bigger and more athletic,” Stars player/coach Jin Han said. “Tonight, we wanted to pack it in and make them beat us from the outside. We did a good job of rebounding and using our speed in transition. Our guys played well and stuck to the game plan.”

MVP jumped out to a 13-0 lead from the start as guard Darren Hechanova drove his way to eight of his 19 points for the quick leap ahead. KFC didn’t get on the board until nearly halfway into the opening quarter on a Piere Collie offensive putback.

“We just came out and played hard,” Hechanova said. “We have a lot of players who can run up and down the floor.”

“Our main objective was to lock down on defense. Offensive, we’re not too worried about. We have a lot of offensive scorers.” – Stars Darren Hechanova

The swarming MVP defense limited the high-powered Bombers offense to just 19% shooting in the first half: 7-of-24 in the first quarter and a dismal 2-for-24 in the second.

KFC came as close to the lead at 15-10 late in the first, but Hechanova and J.P. Cruz guided MVP to their largest lead of the game, doubling the Bombers 42-21 leading into the halftime score of 44-25.

The Joe Blas Show

The Bomber awoke in the third quarter, finally finding an offensive groove. Unfortunately for them, Joe Blas was there to deny any such comeback with Joe Blas countering time and time again. Blas would score 19 points in the third quarter alone, dashing any hopes of a KFC comeback.

Blas knew how important it was for his big buckets to stop any momentum from their opposition.

“Those (shots) were very important,” the Guam National Team stud said. “We had a short bench (tonight) so the longer the game goes, it’s a disadvantage for us. So for sure we wanted to blow that lead up or sustain that lead. That put the game away quick.”

The Stars shot 47% from the field, including 61% in the final quarter to seal the deal. The Bombers shot a much better 44% in the second half as opposed to their dismal 19% in the first half, a half in which they missed their first nine shots of the game and the final 17 shots heading into halftime.

“Usually, Andersen plays hard, so I expect them to bounce back the next game,” Blas added.

Cruz added 18 points for MVP with Vince Estella chipping in with 10.

Guard Jaden Finley led the Bombers with 23 points while Collie added 16.

Nightcapper

In the contest of winless teams, the UOG Tritons dropped to 0-4 after losing to the M.B.I. Four Stars 102-65.

AJ Grape scored 24 points for the Four Stars.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

August

September 2023

October
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
Events for August

1st

Events for September

2nd

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Events for September

3rd

Events for September

3rd

No Events
Events for September

5th

Events for September

6th

Events for September

7th

Events for September

8th

Events for September

9th

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Events for September

9th

No Events
Events for September

11th

Events for September

12th

Events for September

13th

Events for September

14th

Events for September

15th

Events for September

16th

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Events for September

17th

Events for September

18th

Events for September

19th

Events for September

19th

No Events
Events for September

21st

Events for September

22nd

Events for September

23rd

24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Events for September

23rd

No Events
Events for September

25th

Events for September

26th

Events for September

27th

Events for September

28th

Events for September

29th

Events for September

30th

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

COMING SOON …

  • High School Football starts Sept. 29
  • Brawl 3: Oct 13
  • Guam’s Strongest Man and Woman Competition October 29

 

QUICK HITS

The Figo Islanders 40s women’s softball team took gold in the Senior Softball World Championship in Las Vegas. Figo came out of the loser’s bracket and beat the Arizona Belles 17-3 in the AA division championship game Sunday afternoon.
Other Guam teams that played in the 40s tournament were: Team SOTTA (women’s) and Bud Light Guam, Friars 671 and Sindalun Guahan (men’s).
Sindalu finished a respectable 4th out of 24 AAA division teams.
——————————————————-
In Guam’s first time competing in the FIBA Asia Cup, we draw China, Japan, and Mongolia in Group C. Competition begins in 2024. Guam also moves up the FIBA world rankings to #76.

More in Basketball