Saipan Tribune

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Thursday, October 11, 2012

PIC survives Hoopaholics in OT

Pacific Islands Club flirted with ending its streak before eking out a tough 80-72 overtime win over the persistent Hoopaholics/Oceanside Bar in the second game in the 2012 Emon Lodge 179 Basketball League-Docomo Brotherhood Cup last Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Hoops' Kelvin Fitial canned a buzzer-beating trey to send the game into the extra period before PIC showed poise in overtime, holding its foe scoreless in the first three minutes and converting crucial free throws to remain unbeaten in eight games. PIC will go for a regular season sweep this Saturday when it faces Hi-Five (4-2).

Fitial made the equalizer in the last 2 seconds of the regulation after he received the inbound pass from Ben Lisua and pulled up for a triple from the right key against Brett Sutton and Darwin Barbo.

However, the Hoops failed to bring its momentum in overtime, as fatigue from playing catch up since the second half caught up with the team.

PIC on the other hand continued to be active with Sutton penetrating the Hoops slow defense and drawing fouls early in the extra frame. Sutton went 3-for-4 from the foul line and then nailed a basket off a spin move to put PIC on top, 73-68.

Darwin Barbo added another charity to make it a 6-point game before the Hoops broke the spell in the last two minutes with Mel Manibusan nailing a short jumper and Walter Mendez connecting on a putback off his own miss. The Hoops had a chance to tie the game after PIC missed anew, however Sutton challenged Lisua's reverse layup and the former faltered.

PIC went on to seal the win after going 6-for-8 from the foul line in the last one minute of the extension.

The Hoops dropped to a 4-3 record for fourth place in the team standings despite getting off a good start, leading PIC, 23-15. Five players converted at least two field goals each for the Hoops in the first canto.

However, the league frontunner stepped up on defense in the second canto, limiting the Hoops to 10 points to steal the lead, 36-33. Only Mendez and Lisua made more than one field goal in their second-canto meltdown.

PIC stretched the lead to 10 going into the final two minutes of the third, 52-42, but an 8-2 windup capped by Edwin Camacho's triple in the closing seconds put the Hoops back in the game, 50-54.

A 7-0 start in the fourth canto, punctuated by a triple from Trevor Ogumoro, gave the Hoops the lead momentarily before Wowie Abuel brought order back to PIC. Abuel scored seven straight points to reclaim the lead, 61-57, but PIC failed to close the game in regulation as James Abuy was called for a traveling violation in the last 4 seconds after an inbound play, returning possession to the Hoops and paving the way for Fitial's game-tying basket.

Archers 97, Servitek 73

In the first game, the Archers got their second straight win after whipping Servitek (0-7).

The Archers now have a 2-4 card for the No. 6 spot in the team standings, ahead of Armatech (1-5), and Fong's Bakery (1-5), and all three are assured of playoffs seats, while Servitek is out of the running.

Kae Bernardo and Ivan Devero scored 26 and 25 points, respectively, to lead the Archers' lopsided win.

The Archers held a shaky 21-20 lead after the first period before controlling the game in the second canto and taking a 50-32 halftime advantage en route to the 24-point winning margin.

First Game

Archers 97 - Bernardo 26, Devero 25, Mendoza 15, David 7, Barrios 6, Claveria 5, Muleta 4, Anicete 3, Danipog 2, Usi 2.

Servitek 73 - Kenty 24, Brenna 22, Jose 16, Detera 4, Morales 3, Alano 2, Esconde 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-20, 50-32, 71-60, 97-73.

Second Game

PIC 80 - Sutton 25, Barbo 16, Abuel 13, Abuy 10, Demapan 6, Salem 5, Babauta 3.

Hoopaholics 72 - Manibusan 15, Ogumoro 12, Mendez 10, Lisua 10, Fitial 9, Tenorio 5, Camacho 5, Babauta 4.

Scoring by quarters: 15-23, 36-33, 54-50, 80-72.