Basketball
WARRIORS DOMINATE GECKOS, MARCH ON TO FINALS
St. Paul will face FD in long-time rivalry
By Shania Bulala
The St. Paul Warriors delivered a dominant performance against the GW Geckos in the ISA/IIAAG boys basketball semifinals, securing a commanding 86-48 victory at the Geckos’ gymnasium on Tuesday night. Forward Bless Aisek led the Warriors on the offensive end with a game-high 26 points.
With this win, the Warriors advance to the championship match, where they will face the undefeated Father Duenas Friars Friday night.
1st Half
From the opening tip-off, the Warriors asserted their dominance by setting the tone early with their aggressive offense and hostile defense. They took a strong 23-11 lead by the end of the first quarter and never looked back.
The second quarter saw the Geckos struggling to keep up. Foul trouble plagued their starting lineup with three out of five starters in foul trouble, forcing coach Desmond Mandell to sit them out. Meanwhile, Aisek continued to showcase his offensive dominance, adding 10 points in the quarter alone. By halftime, the Warriors had extended their lead to 45-23.
2nd Half
The second half proved to be the defining moment of the game as the Warriors defense clamped down on the Geckos, limiting them to just five points in the period. The Warriors continued to keep their foot on the gas by executing their offensive game plan effectively and playing lockdown defense. The crowd was stunned as they took advantage of every opportunity to capitalize on turnovers and turn them into fast breaks. The Warriors managed to stretch their lead to 67-29 by the end of the third quarter, giving them a comfortable advantage heading into the final quarter.
Despite the Geckos finally finding some offensive rhythm in the final eight minutes of the game, the deficit was too great to overcome. The Warriors defensive efforts continued to stifle any attempt at a comeback from the Geckos. The Warriors officially secured their place in the finals, closing out the game with a final score of 86-48.
With this victory, the Warriors set their sights on the championship match as they are set to face the Friars on Friday at 7 pm at the University of Guam Calvo Field House.
