The CNMI Junior National Team showed improvement in every game in last week’s U19 Micronesian Basketball Tournament at the Father Duenas Memorial School Phoenix Centre in Hagatna, Guam.

The Commonwealth youth cagers went 0-3 in pool play, but saved a bronze medal after beating Guam U16 in the battle for third place, 64-51. Before its 13-point victory over Guam U16, the CNMI bowed to the same team in the preliminary game, 67-72, lost to Guam, 57-78, and fell short versus Palau, 72-75.

“Overall the boys did an outstanding job. They were able to improve in every game even though we came up short at the end. They knew that they had what it takes to win. They showed it when they went toe to toe with Guam U19 in the semifinals. It was a close game ‘till halfway through the fourth quarter. The boys gave Guam a good run and Guam boys were surprised and worried for a while,” said Ed Manalili, a member of the coaching staff, joining Rufino Aguon and Tinian’s Keith Nabors.

The CNMI eventually lost to Guam by 20 points in the semifinals, 53-73, after keeping up with the host at the break, as the visiting team was behind by only 8, 22-30, according to a report from Guam Sports Network.

The Commonwealth bets even forced a deadlock in the third canto, 35-all, before Guam made a late run and took a 49-39 advantage at the end of that period.

Manalili said they folded up in the end, as Guam showed more cohesiveness in the homestretch.

“It was the first time the boys played as a team when we got to Guam. Most of Guam’s players have been playing together for many years and it showed in their games,” Manalili said.

Despite losing four straight matches, the CNMI still went all out in its last game and managed to bring home a win and a medal with its 13-point victory over Guam U16.

Jack Aranda paced the CNMI against Guam U16, scoring 19 points, while Tinian’s Darius Pettis chipped in 16. The duo brought the CNMI back into the game after Guam U16 took an 8-4 lead in the first five minutes of play.

With Aranda and Pettis finding their marks and drawing help from Ichitaro Faisao, Emerson Feria, and Jimmy Tudela, the CNMI stole the driver’s seat at the end of the first canto, 17-12, and tasted its biggest lead, 49-33, at the 1:35 mark of the third canto.

“The boys stayed focused and played as a team until the last buzzer. They knew that they had to execute both defensively and offensively and had to keep up the intensity from the tip off to the final buzzer,” Manalili said.

After the MBT stint, Manalili said majority of the members of the team will play together in the Rotary league to prepare for future off-island competitions.

“Our goal as coaches is to try and keep the boys playing as a team here. I believe that (not having enough time to play as a team) was one of our weakness when we played in MBT,” Manalili said.

Meanwhile, the squad would like to thank the following for making its participation in MBT possible: PSS, Tan Holdings, Mariana Resort and Spa, Triple J/Hertz Rental Car, Bridge Capital, NMASA, NMC, Lt. Gov. Jude U. Hofschneider, Rep. Antonio Sablan (IR-Saipan), and the players and coaches’ families, and friends