Despite losing to powerhouse Guam, team Palau secured a spot in the semifinals of the men’s division in the ongoing 17 and Under Western Division of the Micronesia Youth Basketball Tournament held in CNMI.

Palau lost to Guam, 82-57 Wednesday night but it was not before team Palau drubbed team CNMI 2, 80-57. Despite the lost, team Palau goes on to the semifinal round sporting a 3-2 win-loss record.

As follows are the complete results of team Palau’s matches: May 21 – Palau defeated Saipan 1, 77-66; CNMI 1 bested Palau, 91-78; May 22 – Palau won over Tinian, 83-70; May 23 – Palau outclassed CNMI 2, 80-50; Guam held Palau, 82-57.

Palau’s last assignment in the elimination round will be against Saipan 2 which is still playing as of this writing. It will a good preparation for the team as they will meet team CNMI 1 in the semis today at 6 p.m. while Guam will face off with Tinian at 12 noon.

Winners of the semis will advance to the gold medal round tomorrow at 4 p.m. while the losers will be pitted for the bronze medal round at 12 noon.

PBF vice president and National Basketball Development Officer Topps Sungino said that the players are enjoying the tournament and are having fun and making new friends with the other players, especially with the CNMI teams since as most of them came to Palau during the MYBT 15 and Under last year.

“The players and coaches are learning a lot from the experience and are applying what they learned from the coaching clinics conducted in the past,” Sungino added.

He also said that the Palau Community of Saipan officers and members will be hosting a team dinner party on Saturday night and adds that Palauans living in Saipan came to all their games to cheer for the team.

Team Palau is coached by Ziske Asanuma with Jose Meltel as assistant coach. It is composed of RB Dorado, Marvic Ngchar, Ray Rdialul, Luke Wilter, Cullen Carlson, Shonty Ubedei, Medermel Yaoch, O’brein Ngemaes, Edward Baysa, Tavon Borja, Cody Rorer and Keene Isao.

The team is supported by President Johnson Toribiong, Etpison Cup, The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP), Palau Shipping, Surangel and Sons and Palau Royal Resort.  By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)