Palau takes silver in MBT Open Division
Team Palau showed poise as they settled for the silver in the just concluded 2012 Micronesian Basketball Tournament (MBT) Open division held at the University of Guam gym.
Team Palau bowed to powerhouse team Guam, 88-69 in the championship round held Saturday night. Team Palau barged into the championship round after beating Guam Juniors, 77-71 while team Guam took the last seat in the finals with their 75-51 mastery over Marshall Islands.
Team Palau trailed the host team in the first half of the game with the score at 35-26. The host team showed their supremacy as they outscored team Palau in the third with a 26-12 output to further widen the gap at 61-38.
But team Palau did not easily gave the game away as they made their last stand in the final canto spurting a 31-27 output but was not enough to catch up against the host squad.
Joe Blas, the league’s top scorer, paced team Guam with 18 points while Lester Mendoza and Douglas Schmidt led the scoring chores for team Palau with 20 and 16 baskets, respectively.
In the consolation match, Marshall Islands won over Guam Juniors, 60-58 to take the bronze medal.
Team Palau composed of Mike Williams, Perry Oiterong, Reid “Una” Rikrik, Gino Smau, Mark Pagayanan, Douglas Schmidt, John Stills, Lester Mendoza, Arnold Undecimo, Kent Moore, Traxx Mark and Leon Mengloi with team coach Ziske Asanuma with Logan Ngiriou as assistant coach, Ivan Blesam as program coordinator/team manager and John Stills as referee official.
Team Palau is supported by the Koror State Youth Council, President Johnson Toribiong, Sen. Surangel Whipps Jr., Min. Jackson Ngiraingas, Sandra Pierantozzi, Mr. and Mrs. Gregorio Ngirmang, Palau Shipping Company, Sarah’s Yum-Yum, Palau Trading Company, Koror State Government, Mason Whipps of Surangel and Sons, Palau Pacific Resort, Gov. Yositaka Adachi, Sen. Tommy Remengesau Jr., Mleusch-Dil Skin and Wellness Center, Arvin Raymond of Orion Maritime Service, HOD vice speaker Alexander Merep, Franny Reklai Construction Company, Shimbros International Inc., Sen. Regis Akitaya and IP&E Palau.
By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)
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