Saipan Tribune

Friday, May 24, 2013

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Kanoa bounces back, edges POI

Kanoa Resort recovered from its debut loss in the 2012 Tan Holdings Inter-Company Basketball League after outclassing POI, 71-67, last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium of the TSL Sports Complex.

Kanoa, which bowed to CTSI-D&Q in the league opener early this month, 86-91, avoided a 0-2 record after drawing another big game from Ryan Manglona. The lanky forward, who had 23 markers in Kanoa's first match, fired 20 against POI, making 19 of them in the fourth period. Manglona single-handedly carried the fight for Kanoa in the payoff canto, as he drilled 13 of the team's last 15 points, including three crucial triples.

With Kanoa holding a shaky 49-48 advantage at the end of the third period, Manglona opened the fourth with back-to-back baskets and a few minutes later, he started a scoring spree, connecting on three triples and three more field goals. The Kanoa gunner held his ground against POI's Ferdie Arago and Anthony Esteves, who combined for 16 of their 19 markers in the payoff canto.

Esteves had to help Arago run POI's offense in the fourth period after Ramsa Tenepere went cold in the homestretch. Tenepere had a game-high 27 points, but was scoreless in the fourth frame.

While Tenepere ran out of steam in the fourth, Manglona, who was without a field goal in the first three quarters, saved his best for last to foil Arago and Esteves' bid of putting POI in the win column. POI dropped its debut against JP Centre.

Shirley's 77, JP Centre 67

In the second game, Shirley's Coffee Shop grabbed a share of the lead with CTSI-D&Q after beating JP Centre.

Shirley's played better in the second half en route to the 10-point win. It started the second half with a 32-point production in the third, turning a 21-32 deficit to a 53-47 advantage.

Rommel Usi, who was scoreless in the first half, came out smoking for Shirley's in the period. He began the second half with five straight points and ended the third with a triple to score 13 points in that period alone and put Shirley's in the driver's seat.

JP Centre lost the upper hand in the third, as only Dino Valdez and John March Ong scored more than one field goal at the start of the second half.

Valdez and Ong found support from Ferdie de la Torre in the fourth, but JP Centre failed to reclaim the lead, as Fradel Sedillo's ran the show for Shirley's, nailing 14 of his 26 markers in the payoff canto.

Meanwhile, CTSI-D&Q was awarded its second win in as many games after a no-show from defending champion Fiesta Resort & Spa (0-2).

First Game

Shirley's Coffee Shop 77 - Sedillo 26. Usi 15, Dela Rosa 11, Yap 9, Nicdao 2, Sarande 2.

JP Centre 67 - J. Ong 26, Valdez 11, de la Torre 11, Angeles 7, Rabago 4, Cadauan 3, Moran 2, O. Ong 2.

Scoring by quarters: 11-15, 21-32, 53-47, 77-67.

Second Game

Kanoa Resort 71 - Manglona 20, Cruz 9, Benavente 9, Sablan 9, De Leon 7, Pablo 6, Nunez 4, David 3, Bata 2, Jung 2.

POI 67 - Tenepere 27, Arago 16, Bongaling 7, Esteves 6, Pensa 5, Sablan 2, Iglecias 1, Anier 1.

Scoring by quarters: 13-17, 32-35, 49-48, 71-67.