The Sports Leigh-Out: March 28-April 3

Hafa Adai yan Tirow sports fans, this is Leigh Gases bringing you Marianas Press’ weekly wrap up—the Sports Leigh-Out for the week of March 28-April 3.

Let’s take a closer look at what our athletes have been up to in off-island competitions and on their home turf—whether it’s on the pitch, mat, courts, fields, track, pools, or the beautiful ocean.

3-peat for MHS boys basketball team

The Marianas High School Dolphins have cemented their dynasty with three consecutive championships in the IT&E Interscholastic Boys' High School Basketball League, bouncing back against formidable rivals, the Saipan Southern High School Manta Rays, in a double-elimination tournament that had the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium rocking with cheers from their supporters.

The entire gym trembled with the intensity of cheers from all sides as supporters from both schools filled the stands with their screams, banners, and chants. The drama and excitement mirrored what was happening on the court, as MHS vied for the title on Friday night and as SSHS fought for a shot at a second and final game last Saturday.

The Manta Rays forced a do-or-die final game after winning the first game, 50-44, last Friday night. The rematch last Saturday morning could have gone either way, but the Dolphins sealed the win in a hotly contested showdown, 48-46.

The final clash on Saturday began much like Friday's game, with SSHS building an early lead over MHS in the first few minutes. The Dolphins struggled to keep up as they watched the scoreboard shift in favor of the Manta Rays, who led 9-1 after open buckets from Jezpher Navarro, Kian Helgen, and Matthew Peters.

However, the Dolphins' starting five, including Carl Sanchez, found their rhythm, scoring 6 straight points to close the gap to 7-9 with 14 minutes left in the first half. It was now the Manta Rays' turn to falter, as they were stuck at 9 points with just four minutes left while MHS capitalized on their momentum, ending the half with a 29-16 lead.

In the second half, the Manta Rays came out with renewed vigor, determined not to let their efforts from Friday go to waste. Despite MHS holding a solid 36-22 lead midway through the last half, Navarro found open space and hit consecutive 3-pointers to narrow the deficit. However, MHS responded with each shot, just narrowly extending their lead by a few points.

A late rally from SSHS made for a tense finish, with each possession met with bated breath by the crowd and the teams. Danny Defang hit a desperation 3-pointer with just seconds left, but it was too little, too late. As the final buzzer sounded, MHS clinched their third consecutive championship by just two points, 48-46.

Miller, Pan fastest in 10K Women’s Run

Veteran runner Akiko Miller and student-athlete Catherine Pan were the fastest in the 5th Annual NMI 10K Women’s Run on Saturday at the starting line in the parking lot of Marianas Beach Resort.

Miller was the fastest overall with a time of 43:47, followed by Krista Hawley at 50.13. Ann Bang was third at 53.44.

In the women’s U18 division, Pan was first with a time of 54:13. Yuxi Zhang came in second at 55:47, and Dianna Zheng was third at 58:15.

In the 30-34 age group, Jove Taman clocked in first at 1:03:50, while Loriann Rabe was second at 1:03.53.

In the 40-44 age group, Robyn Spaeth was first at 57:54; Soledad Tenorio was second with 58:52; and Kathleen Tolentino was third at 1:00:04.

In the 45-49 age group, Rosemarie Chisato was the fastest with a time of 57:56; Sheila Isla was second at 1:06:07; and third was Pamela Walsh with 1:07:14.

In the 50-54 age group, Geraldine Rodgers was first with 1:11:28, followed by Frances Pangelinan at 1:25:00.

In the 55-59 age group, Marilou Carlos was first at 1:03:23); Miriam Dilse came after at 1:06:17.

The 5K division was dominated by a family of runners with Addalee Taflinger leading the pack with 23:36. Her younger sister Kaylen came in second at 25:23, while their mother Angela clocked in third with 26:31.

Prospects 1, G Rollers 1 to clash in 15U finals

Prospects 1 redeemed themselves against rival Madflex 1 in overtime, 45-43, while G Rollers 1 edged out Junior Ol’Aces, 62-56, in the semifinals of the 2025 NMIBF 15U Boys Basketball League on Monday at the Koblerville Gymnasium.

It was anybody’s game as Prospects 1 and Madflex 1 were evenly matched. In their previous meeting, Madflex won in dramatic fashion, but this time, Prospects 1 played smart and emerged victorious despite another narrow, nail-biting margin.

Jairus Pangilinan sank a clutch three-pointer towards the end of regulation to tie the game. Then he and the rest of the team made play after play despite a Madflex squad that didn’t let up, and ultimately, Pangilinan scored another two-pointer that clinched the finals spot for them.

In the final game of the night, G Rollers 1 defeated Junior Ol’Aces, 62-56, setting the stage for the finals between them and Prospects 1.

PSS Sports: Co-Ed Elementary Softball debuts, All Schools Athletics begins

The Inaugural PSS-NMISA Co-Ed Elementary Softball 2024-2025 debuted last Wednesday at the Dandan Softball Field as the youngest group of school children took to the bat and ball game.

Kagman Elementary School Blue Marlins started the season off against William S. Reyes Elementary School Kingfishers and clinched their first win, 5-2. After that, Garapan Elementary School Mallards flew over Mount Carmel School Knights, 12-1.

At the Oleai Sports Complex track and field, runners, jumpers, and throwers from elementary school to high school filled the grounds with energy and vigor on their first meet on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Elementary school students opened up the season on Tuesday, while middle school and high school athletes took to the track on Wednesday. The qualifiers lead up to the championships slated for May 2 and 3 for the elementary school division, while the middle school/high school division is set for May 9 and 10.

Bat & Boujee douses Wettz in BASA

Bat & Boujee doused Wettz, 16-9, in the continuation of the 2025 Budweiser Belau Amateur Softball Association masters and women's league last Sunday at the Dandan Softball Field.

In other results of the women’s division, Lady Sufa slipped past 670 Magas Babes, 5-4, and Batties pounded Bat Pitches, 13-1. In the masters’ results, Whass Up edged Eagle Rays, 11-10, Cholos Familia defeated Ngatpang, 15-13, Tokahao thrived against Peliliu, 15-9, and Man Amigos won over Sufa, 14-12.