Prime, G Rollers take 2025 APEC ‘ship

The undefeated teams of the 2025 APEC U18 Boys’ and Women’s Basketball League capped off the season by claiming the coveted championship titles, as Prime defeated the Hericanes, 44–34, in the women’s division, while Turnkey Solutions–G Rollers edged out the Hardt Eye–MP Raiders, 39–36, in the U18 finals at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium late Thursday night.

In the first championship game of the night, the young and dynamic Prime squad—composed of middle school and high school players—never took their eyes off the trophy. Riding the momentum of a dominant, undefeated regular season and playoffs run, they brought their energy and grit into the finals.

The Hericanes, a veteran-heavy team, didn’t go down without a fight, but their only lead came in the first half by just two points. Prime quickly tied it up and eventually pulled away after leading 19–17 at halftime.

Hericanes’ Rachel Langu held it down in the paint, using her height and strong post play to finish with 14 points. But Prime's Azzy Fatialofa matched that output, while Jahsmin Ramon chipped in nine of her own. In the second half, Prime built a commanding lead—up by as much as 14 points at 38–24. A late-game spark from the Hericanes, with back-to-back threes from Kaia Travilla and Shaina Malonzo, brought them within 10 points. Still, Prime stayed composed, locked down on defense, and sealed the win, as the Hericanes couldn’t quite stir up the storm they needed to overcome the deficit.

Prime head coach Mike Mercado said of their win, “It feels awesome. We practice three times a week. My girls come in every practice, give everything, they listen, they execute, and we’re a very young team. I think we made a good statement that for future tournaments to come, our girls here, our girls are well off to represent even to the level of the CNMI [National Team.]”

With his young team coming out on top over teams with veteran national players, he said, “It’s definitely very heartwarming and rewarding for me as a coach to see my young team compete against these older women and I thank them with all my heart that they gave us the opportunity to showcase our talent. Some of these older national ladies, they actually talk to my players and give them guidance, and I’m very appreciative of that.”

In the much-anticipated boys’ finals, both teams were evenly matched, and the game delivered everything fans could ask for—drama, heated calls, technical fouls, and undeniable passion for the sport.

The Raiders came out strong from the tip-off, executing plays smoothly while the G Rollers scrambled to find their rhythm. The Raiders quickly built a 10-point lead, 17–7, and seemed in full control. But just before the first half closed, things began to unravel. The Raiders stalled at 17 points, while the G Rollers surged back with a nine-point run fueled by Jairus Pangilinan, Michael Mercado, and Kian Helgen, pulling within one at 16–17. The half ended with the Raiders holding a narrow 19–17 lead.

From there, the game became a back-and-forth battle filled with multiple ties, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats. Tension ran high with the championship on the line—emotions flared, scuffles nearly broke out, and some injuries were sustained. Technical fouls were called on both sides more than once, as intensity boiled over in key moments.

In the final seconds, the Raiders had a chance to tie the game and send it to overtime. Webb Alano stepped up to the free throw line with everything on the line. He made the first shot to bring it to 36–37—but missed the second. With just four seconds remaining, the game ultimately came down to free throws. On the G Rollers’ final possession, Helgen returned to the line and calmly sank two clutch shots to seal the win, 39–36.

For Joe Diaz, head coach of the G-Rollers, he said, “It feels great. First of all we want to thank our Lord, our savior, and we want to thank all the coaches and the sponsors again. It feels great to come out here with a W. I give the other teams a shoutout too to them because they fought very hard and that’s the only way we can get better on our island right? But it feels like a great accomplishment.”

He shared that three of their players—Lance Lerio, J.P. Pineda, and Austin Diaz, are leaving the island. This is their last game, Diaz said, and “that’s why they fought so hard to the last minute.”