PIC, Marianas Resort scorch opponents
January 24th, 2007 - Category: Real Estate, ResortPacific Islands Club and Marianas Resort and Spa improved their marks in the ongoing NMBA Inter-Hotel Basketball League HANMI Cup Tuesday night after posting successful performances at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
In the first game, Marianas Resort won a low-scoring battle with Saipan World Resort to pick up its second win of the season, 61-49.
It was a tough affair as both teams were evenly matched throughout the first three and a half quarters.
World Resort was able to hold a slim lead, 14-13, after the first period, and maintained advantage at the break after outscoring the opposition, 18-16, in the second stanza for a 32-29 edge at halftime.
Alvin Palma was big for World Resort as he went off for 10 points in the period, while guard Jayson Gatdula prevented Marianas Resort from falling far behind with seven markers.
World Resort struggled from the free throw line in the third quarter, and Gatdula and company took advantage to steal the lead. Gatdula and center Dennis Sebastian aggressively attacked the lane and combined for 12 points to push Marianas Resort ahead, 45-42, with a period remaining.
Marianas Resort was then able to close strong after holding World Resort to just seven points in the final 10 minutes of play.
World Resort had trouble knocking down free throws the entire game as the team shot 29 percent after converting nine of 31 attempts. Marianas Resort went 20-for-32 from the charity line.
Gatdula and Sebastian led Marianas Resort with 19 and 18 points, with Gatdula also earning the Pacific Telecom Inc. player of the game award, while Palma and Rogel Caruana scored 12 and 10 points for World Resort.
In the second game, PIC had five cagers finish in double figures to turn back Pedro Iguel and Hafadai Beach Hotel crew, 91-70.
Iguel was able to open with a bang as he torched the net for 12 points in the first quarter, but his team still trailed by 10 at the end of the period after PIC dominated for a 27-17 run, with James Abuy, Alfred Fernandez, and Richard Pambid leading the way.
Iguel and speedy guard Mike Olaitiman fired back in the second period and Hafadai was able to pull even. Olaitiman was good for 10 points and Iguel connected for another eight markers. With the two having their way, Hafadai was able to outscore the opposition, 25-15, to even the bout at 42-42 at halftime.
Hafadai was not able to keep pace, though, and PIC was able to go ahead again. With points coming from six players, PIC was able to score nine points more than their opponents for a 67-58 lead.
Iguel tried to rally his troops in the final stages of the game with four baskets, but three triples by Abuy sealed the deal and PIC was able to break over the .500 mark by improving to 3-2.
Fernandez and Abuy finished with 21 and 20 points to lead PIC, while Pambid and Raymond Tolentino added 18 and 13 points, with Pambid also grabbing 11 rebounds. J.R. Ngeskebei also had 11 points. Fernandez was the PTI player of the game.
Iguel finished with a game-high 37 points, while Olaitiman supported with 17 points for Hafadai, which dropped to 1-3.
First Game
Marianas Resort 61 - Gatdula 19, Sebastian 18, Ocanada 7, Meimban 5, espejo 4, Sereno 2, De Tomas 2, Usi 2, Geva 2.
World Resort 49 - Alv. Palma 12, Caruana 10, Navarro 8, Gayo 8, Mariano 4, Paras 4, Madridano 2, Murday 1.
Scoring by quarters: 13-14, 29-32, 45-42, 61-49.
Referees: Tom Alegre, Eric Artillaga, and Jess Pacheco.
Second Game
PIC 91 - Fernandez 21, Abuy 20, Pambid 18, Tolentino 13, Ngeskebei 11, Bartolo 4, Apasan 2, Zapata 2.
Hafa Adai 70 - Iguel 37, Olaitiman 17, Calayag 5, Kapileo 5, Estepa 3, Andal 3.
Scoring by quarters: 27-17, 42-42, 67-58, 91-70.
Referees: Arnold Mesa, Jess Pabula, Noel Delos Santos.
Source: www.saipantribune.com
