Saipan Tribune

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Archers snap skid; Ashley's extends streak

The Archers finally hit their target, while Ashley's/ Brabu Pharmacy kept its winning run after downing separate foes in the 2012 Emon Lodge 179 Basketball League-Docomo Brotherhood Cup last Saturday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Misfiring in their first four games, the Archers notched their first win after beating Fong's Bakery in the second game, 89-82, while Ashley's/Brabu defeated Hi-Five in the curtain-raiser, 88-80.

The Archers played without Jack Lizama, who was suspended for the rest of the season after the headbutt incident against Hi-Five's James Lee last week. However, the Archers hardly missed Lizama's presence, as Ivan Devero suited up for the team after missing two games and sizzled for a game-high 26 points.

Devero's 14-point explosion in the first quarter allowed the Archers to gain momentum of the match, as they led by double digits early in the game, 27-13.

Kae Bernardo, Edmark Mendoza, Rommel Usi, and JR Barrios then provided the needed support in the last three quarters to fend off Fong's Bakery's comeback bids.

Fong's connected on seven triples, five of them came from Sonny Lerio, in the last three periods to keep the Archers within striking distance. However, Barrios answered with two treys in the fourth, while Usi made one and Bernardo and Mendoza took care of business in the paint to save the Archers.

Bernardo finished with 18 points, including 4 of the Archers' last 6 points, Mendoza added 16, and Usi and Barrios chipped in 15 and 10, respectively. Lerio fired 28 points to lead Fong's Bakery, which fell to a 1-5 slate, tying Armatech in the second to the last place in the team standings.

With the Archers breaking into the win column, only Servitek remains the winless squad in the nine-team field and the latter is likely to be eliminated with its 0-6 card. Only the Top 8 teams will advance to the playoffs.

Meanwhile, in the first game, Ashley's (6-2) ended the round-robin regular season on a five-game winning streak and is currently ranked third behind Pacific Islands Club (6-0) and Mobil (5-1), while Hi-Five's four-game run was snapped and it dropped to a 4-2 slate.

Ashley's played better in the second half after falling behind at the break, 34-42.

A 28-15 scoring in the third quarter put Ashley's in the driver's seat and it hung on to the lead, as it continued to have a balance scoring

Five players scored at least two baskets apiece for Ashley's in the third canto to grab the upper hand from Hi-Five, which earned almost half of its points in that frame from the foul line.

The fourth period started with Ashley's ahead, 62-57, and its offense remained unpredictable and Hi-Five scrambled to find ways to stop the former's even offense and failed. Manolo Manalo and Perry Inos had 6 points apiece for Ashley's in the final canto and five others also lit up the scoreboard in the fourth.

Bernardo Aquino top-scored for Ashley's with his 17 points, Inos added 15, Elgene Mangali contributed 14, and Manalo and Rolly Paraiso had 12 and 10, respectively. Peter Mendiola paced Hi-Five with his 17 markers.

First Game

Ashley's/Brabu 88 - Aquino 17, Inos 15, Mangali 14, Manalo 12, Paraiso 10, Cortez 6, Norita 4, Montes 4.

Hi-Five 80 - Mendiola 17, Standish 15, Barcinas 15, Peters 11, Quitugua 8, Matagolai 4, Acosta 4, T. DL Guerrero 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-21, 42-34, 62-57, 88-80.

Second Game

Archers 89 - Devero 26, Bernardo 18, Mendoza 16, Usi 15, Barrios 10, Danipog 2.

Fong's Bakery 82 - Lerio 28, Pagarao 24, Capalad 13, Diaz 8, Caro 6, Tabora 2.

Scoring by quarters: 27-13, 41-38, 68-60, 89-82.