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WITH late afternoon rain showers threatening outdoor activities, sports fans need not worry as action in the 2012 Summer Jam Basketball League provided fans with several games for the night. In the first game, the Sixers Club was looking to hand the Northern All-Stars their first defeat. However, despite keeping the game close almost the entire time, the Sixers would fall to the All-Stars and take a heart-breaking 57-56 loss.

With seven minutes left in the game, both teams found themselves knotted at 47-47. It was from that point on where things got a bit exciting. Northern's Shawn Bulala gave his team a temporary two-point lead after draining a baseline shot. On the ensuing play, a layup by Christian Chang evened the score for the fourth time in the half.

Both teams played the next two minutes trading baskets up until the board reflected 53-53. The Sixers ran into some trouble and fouled Northern's Daniel Del Carmen twice in a row, giving him shots at the charity stripe. Del Carmen made four straight free throws to give the All-Stars a 57-53 lead with 55 seconds on the clock.

After returning from a timeout, the Sixers' Giovanni Perez dialed in from long distance to trim the Northern lead to 57-56. With 10 seconds left in the clock, the Sixers had a chance to steal the victory. However, a great defensive stop by Northern preserved their one-point lead as the buzzer sounded to give them the victory.

Early lead

From tipoff, Northern quickly jumped out to an early 5-1 lead after Del Carmen and Jeddou Antonio nailed back-to-back baskets. The Sixers responded to tie the game at five when Ricky Pak and Giovanni Perez converted their first shots of the game. Neither team managed to get hot and the game remained close for several minutes.

With the score 13-13, the All-Stars went on the game's largest run to build a 22-13 lead. However, the Sixers remained tough and narrowed the gap to within three after going on a 6-0 run. The final two minutes of the half had both teams trying to close on a high note. After the signal for the halftime break sounded, it was Northern who held a slim 29-25 lead.

Del Carmen led Northern scoring 14 points, while teammates Cedric Sevilla and Antonio chipped in nine and eight points, respectively. In the losing effort, Jeremiah Taitano led the Sixers with 14 points. Chang and Perez added 13 and 12 points apiece.

Summer Jam Basketball League action resumes play later today with the following games on the schedule in the 18-under Coed Recreation Division: 5:30 p.m. – Sixers Club vs. Asan Maina Rai II; 6:30 p.m. – Inarajan Heat vs. Tamuning Typhoons; and 7:30 p.m. – Cobras I vs. Golden Eagles.