Saipan Tribune

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Thursday, January 03, 2013

Team Four, Team Go So Hard recover

Team Go So Hard snapped Swerve's win streak in the 2012 Kanoa Resort Christmas Basketball Tournament after pulling off a 57-41 upset in their game last Sunday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Team Go So Hard, which had a roller-coaster performance in the three round-robin tournament, improved to a 3-4 record, while Swerve dropped to a 6-1 slate.

Swerve failed to keep its immaculate record in the four-team caging after collapsing in the third canto. It was still ahead at the break, 21-17, before losing the driver's seat at the start of the second half after scoring only 4 points off Lily William and Kaylani Lebria's one basket apiece.

The beginning of the second half was a different story for Team Go So Hard, which exploded for 23 points in the third-its biggest output in any period. Ira Palero, who missed the first half, led Team Go So Hard's recovery in the third canto, scoring 13 points. Teresita Sablan and Jan Travilla also helped Team Go So Hard's cause in the third, combining for 10 points to lift their team to a 40-25 lead.

Team Go So Hard never relinquished the upper hand in the fourth canto, as Swerve was contended on trading baskets with the former in the payoff period.

Palero top-scored for Team Go So Hard with her 19 points, while Travilla also finished in double digits with her 17. Kaylani Lebria paced Swerve with 13, while Williams chipped in 12.

In the first game, Team Four poured it all in the fourth quarter to beat Air Apparent, 72-54.

Team Four fired 27 points against only 12 from Air Apparent, turning a slim 45-42 third-quarter lead to a 17-point winning margin.

Rachel Abrams and Jeralyn Castillo teamed up giving Team Four its second win overall and first after losing five straight games. Abrams had a game-high 30 points, while Castillo added 28.

Castillo knocked down three triples in the first period and scored 15 of their total points to power Team Four to a 19-8 advantage. Abrams then took over in the second period, drilling 8 of their 12 markers in that canto to keep Team Four on top, 31-24.

Air Apparent remained in contention despite Abrams and Castillo's early explosion, as Lalaine Pagarao exchanged shots with the two Team Four gunners. Pagarao finished with 13 first-half points and added 7 more in the third to keep Air Apparent afloat with still one full quarter to go.

However, Team Four managed to walk away with a double-digit win in the end, as Air Apparent failed to stop Abrams, who nailed 14 points in the final canto.

With the loss, Air Apparent fell to a 3-4 slate and tied Team Go So Hard for second and third place.

Four more games will be played in the tournament before the playoffs start this weekend. Playoffs format will be single-elimination with the No. 1 team facing the No. 4 squad in the first semis game and the No. 2 and 3 teams colliding in the second semis match on Friday. Winners of the Final Four pairings will then slug it out in the finals this Saturday.

First Game

Team Four 72 - Abrams 30, Castillo 28, Pablo 6, Badilles 4, Sapong 3, Ocampo 2.

Air Apparent 54 - Pagarao 25, Ito 11, Javier 8, Mendoza 4, Gatchalian 2, Padilla 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-8, 31-24, 45-42, 71-54

Second Game

Team Go So Hard 57 - Palero 19, Travilla 17, Sablan 7, Lizardo 4, Olivos 4, Diaz 4.

Swerve 41 - K. Lebria 13, Williams 12, Alegre 7, Deleon Guerrero 4, Reyes 3, Pua 2.

Scoring by quarters: 10-21, 17-21, 40-25, 57-41.