Saipan Tribune

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Friday, January 18, 2013

Blue Haus still perfect, Proa recovers

Blue Haus is now the lone undefeated team in the 3rd QQ Car Rental Basketball Cup.

Blue Haus holds an immaculate 4-0 record after earning twin wins this week. It first beat former frontrunner Lions Club/NMC Proa (3-1), 70-67, last Monday at the Garapan Basketball Court and then downed OCM Corporation (0-4), 76-57, last Wednesday.

Proa went on to quickly bounce back by routing Kentucky Fried Chicken/Taco Bell (0-4), 87-72, in the other game last Wednesday, while KB/ABCD II Market (3-1) upended Mobil Smiles (2-2), 80-78, in a nailbiter last Monday.

OCM threatened to end Blue Haus' run, after taking a 17-5 edge in the first quarter off Clayton Kenty's 9 points. However, Blue Haus found its form in the the second stanza and assumed control at the half, 35-27.

Big men Edwin Santos and Junar Guiab teamed up for 17 points in the first two frames for Blue Haus, which drew 6 points apiece from starting center Bruce Berline and Noel David, while Kenty was held to two baskets in the second quarter.

Brendon Talania then broke loose for Blue Haus in the third period, scoring 8 points to lead the his team to a 59-37 favor, going into the last quarter where the eventual winning team cruised to the easy victory.

Santos turned in a team-high 16 points, while Kenty led the field with 17.

In the second pairing, KFC/Taco Bell matriculated a 19-13 lead in the opening period as Peter Mendiola and Joshua Sablan delivered 6 points apiece. However, Proa battled back and locked the match at 34-all at the half, as Lerio Pagarao and Dan Barcinas led a second quarter charge with 15 points and Ivan Devero contributed 6.

The tide turned after the break, so to speak, as it was all Proa in the second half. It built a stout 64-49 margin, as Pagarao and Devero beat the young guns at their game and ran up and down the court for a dual effort of 17.

Proa went on to twist the blade in the payoff period for good measure with Gino Libuw leading the team with his 8 points.

Pagarao top-scored for Proa with his 27 points, tying the combined production of KFC's Jawn Joyner and Eugene Manglona.

In Monday's battle of the undefeated squads, Proa grasped a 19-17 lead in the opening period, off Devero's 8 markers.

Proa's defense then held Blue Haus to 8 points in the second quarter and the former trotted ahead at the break, 36-25. Devero and Pagarao had 10 points apiece for Proa in the first half, while Esdrelon fronted Blue Haus with 9

Proa remained in control through the third period and held a double-digit lead, 55-45, heading into the last leg before Blue Haus' defense showed up in the clutch to pull off the win.

On offense, Leo Galarse came off the bench in the late minutes for Blue Haus and led the rally with a pair of huge treys for 12 points. Blue Haus also sunk five free throws to ice the come-from-behind victory.

Esdrelon finished with a game-high 23 points, while Devero scrambled for 20 in defeat. Notably, Proa's primary scorer, Jack Lizama, was contained to 10 points.

In Monday's late feature, KB Market stumbled into an early 18-12 lead, thanks to Preston Basa's three triples. KB then managed to cling to a two-possession advantage, 38-34, at the pause. Both teams struggled finding their mark, though KB Market's defense made Mobil earn its supper from the line aside from a pair of early long treys at the start of the second period.

Then Banjo Basila took the floor after the break and rang in a couple of triples for 10 points to move Mobil within a basket, 55-57, heading into crunch time. However, KB Market's Basa and Marlon De Dios hooked up for 13 points down the homestretch to preserve the win.

WEDNESDAY

First Game

Blue Haus 70 - Esdrelon 23, Guiab 16, Galarse 14, Talania 9, Santos 3, Muleta 3,Tumaquip 2.

Proa 67 - De Vero 20, Pagarao 15, Libuw 10, Lizama 10, Demapan 6, Ogumoro 4, Yabut 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-19, 25-36, 45-55, 70-67.

Second Game

KB Market 80 - Basa 22, De Dios 16, Paraiso 13, Aquino 9, Wesley 8, Fitial 5, Umali 5, Acosta 2.

Mobil 78 - Estolas 23, Basila 14, Rabauliman 12, Peredo 8, Gamboa 5, Mangali 5, Jo. De Guzman 4, Ruluked 4, Gapor 3.

Scoring by quarters: 18-12, 38-34, 57-55, 80-78.

MONDAY

First Game

Blue Haus 76 - Santos 16, Guiab 13, Talania 10, Galarse 9, Berline 8, David 8, Capalad 6, Muleta 4.

OCM Corp. 57 - Clayton 17, E Camacho 16, Barrios 8, Diaz 8, Sacramento 6, Tenorio 2

Scoring by quarters: 15-17, 35-27, 59-37, 76-57

Second Game

Proa 87 - Pagarao 27, Barcinas 16, Devero 13, Libuw 8, Yabut 8, Inos 5, Ogumoro 4, Lizama 3, Babauta 2, Chariton 1.

KFC/Taco Bell 72 - Joyner 14, Manglona 13, Francisco 8, Alegre 8, Abuel 7, Aranda 7, Fernando 6, Salem 4, Saturno 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-13, 34-34, 64-49, 87-72.