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Clinches top seed

AS THE post-season lingers around the corner, teams in the 2012 Summer Jam Basketball League 10-under division are battling it out for final seeding position.

Last night at the Tamuning Gym, the Asan Maina Rai and Inarajan Heat entered their game against one another holding identical (4-1) records. Both teams were looking for a victory in hopes of clinching the top seed going into the playoffs. At the end of the match, it was the Rai who worked their way to a 14-10 victory over the Heat to clinch the top spot. With the loss, the Heat will begin the playoffs as the 2nd seed in the division.

The opening minutes of the game witnessed both teams coming out with aggressive playing on both ends of the floor. Neither team was able to sink a basket for the first two minutes of the half. The game’s first points were finally put on the board when Asan Maina’s Shelby Meeks turned a steal into an easy two points. Inarajan responded on the ensuing play as Nyia Tenorio nailed a bank shot to tie the game at 2-2.

After returning from a called timeout by the Heat, the Rai upped their lead after pressuring their opponents using a half-court set. Led by Dean Weilbacher and Mark Vitug, the Rai went on a six-point run to make it an 8-2 game. Inarajan’s Brent San Nicolas was able to put a halt to the hot shooting of the Rai after scoring back-to-back baskets. San Nicolas’ four points trimmed the Asan lead to two points. With three seconds left in the half, Asan’s Vitug drained a baseline jumper to give his team a 10-6 lead going into the break.

Second half

Heading into the second half, the Rai clung on to a mere four-point lead. Both teams went back to their aggressive playing for the first couple of minutes. However, the strategy didn’t seem to work, as neither was able to put the ball through the hoop.

After burning four minutes off the clock, Inarajan’s San Nicolas hit a mid-range banker to make it a 10-8 game. However, Asan’s Weilbacher and Meeks returned the favor hitting back-to-back shots to up their lead to 14-8.

The Heat tried effortlessly to get back into the game, but to no avail as the Rai allowed only two more points before the final buzzer in the game went off.

The duo of Weilbacher and Meeks led Asan, scoring six points apiece. Inarajan’s San Nicolas led all scorers with a game-high eight points.

Clinching the top seed, Asan will begin their playoffs bid this Saturday when they take on the Tamuning Typhoons at 1:30 p.m. The Heat will take on the Sixers Club immediately after at 2:15 p.m.