Kadena’s Jayla Johnson was named the tournament’s Offensive MVP and to the All-Tournament team. (Trent Lewis/Special to Stripes)

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa – Hobbling around on a walking boot in late November, the result of an injury during volleyball, Jazlene Vergara said she wasn’t sure when – or if – she could finally suit up for Kadena’s basketball team.

Fast forward to Wednesday, when she got immersed in a shooting zone in the fourth quarter of the Far East Division I final, scoring 11 points to help the Panthers rally to beat American School In Japan 36-27.

“It was like, ‘We need this,’” Vergara, a junior guard, said of her offensive explosion. “We fought so hard for it. Even though we were down, we knew we could come back.”

The Panthers trailed by four points after three quarters before coming back to win their seventh Far East D-I title and first since 2016. Vergara said she was mightily uncertain 2½ months ago if she would even be a part.

“I didn’t know when I was going to play or if I was going to play,” Vergara said. “It’s an amazing feeling, to go back to school knowing that we’re Far East champions.”

Kadena's Tianna Crawley was named the tournament's MVP. (Trent Lewis/Special to Stripes)

To the victor goes the spoils. Kadena coach Ed Manalac smiles and hangs on the rim with the net around his neck. (Trent Lewis/Special to Stripes)

Kadena players celebrate their victory. (Trent Lewis/Special to Stripes)

Kadena got off to a slow start in Wednesday’s final at Kubasaki High School, but stayed with the gameplan coach Ed Manalac set up before the final, saying that the Panthers “stuck with the process.”

“We were rushing too much, trying to force things. Once we calmed down and read their (Mustangs) defense, we took better quality shots and had better defensive intensity,” Manalac said.

The big defensive assignment, Manalac said, was shutting down ASIJ’s top scorer Alice Phillips. That task went to Jenna Cook, a post player in her first year of basketball.

“With her length and her skills coming over from volleyball; of course, she had help behind her,” Manalac said of Cook. “She’s very coachable. She’s a smart athlete.”

With her first Far East D-I title in her pocket, Vergara said she’s looking forward to trying again next season with the Panthers, who finished 14-8 on the season.

“I hope I can keep on playing and keep loving the sport,” she said.