Saipan Tribune

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Friday, January 25, 2013

Servitek, Adobo slip past foes

Servitek and Adobo prevailed in separate down-to-the-wire games in Division B of the DLX/Anchor Strong Invitational Basketball League last Wednesday at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Servitek repulsed LD Prime in the curtain raiser, 64-62, while Adobo survived Morales in the late night match, 70-69, to begin their bid in the eight-team field on a positive note and join Tumbaga in the win column. Tumbaga opened the hostilities in Division B of the DLX/Anchor Strong caging last Monday and edged Chinatown, 70-67, while JWS was awarded a win via forfeiture against LD Prime.

LD Prime went on to drop to a 0-2 record, as it muffed two chances of sending its game against Servitek in overtime after missing crucial attempts in the closing seconds of the match.

Lester Lapuz had the first opportunity to tie the game when he was fouled on a fastbreak play with 1.7 seconds left on the clock and Servitek leading, 64-62. However, he faltered on his first free throw and was forced to miss the second one. Lapuz's second charity rattled in and out of the rim and while his other teammates and Servitek players jumped for the rebound, the ball just fell in front of LD Prime's Carl Aldan. Aldan then went for a shot, but he was a bit deep underneath and could not use the board, overshooting the potential game-tying basket.

Servitek escaped with the close victory despite entering the payoff canto with a four-point deficit, 47-51. George Villlasan brought Servitek back in the game in the fourth frame, making 9 of his 11 points in that canto, while Rio “Pacman” Jacob nailed the go-ahead basket.

Servitek had an opportunity to stretch the lead to four in the last 7 seconds of the match, but Noel Mateo went 0-for-2 from the foul line. LD Prime then went for the pitch after the second miss with Lapuz driving strong to the basket and drawing a foul on Jacob, but failed to hit the clutch baskets.

James Dela Cruz, on the other hand, delivered at crunch time, making the game-winning basket for Adobo in the second game.

Dela Cruz was at the right place at the right time in the closing second of the match, as he picked up a loose ball in the paint after teammate Shane Deleon Guerrero failed to cash in on his drive. Dela Cruz then pulled up for a short jumper and made the dagger, 70-69. Morales was left with five seconds to orchestrate a play, but with no timeout left, it scrambled from the backcourt as time expired.

Meanwhile, the first game in Division B last Monday also had a close finish with Tumbaga getting 7 points from Ian John Laret in the fourth quarter to thwart Chinatown.

Laret top-scored for Tumbaga with his 24 points, while Herbert Maranan chipped in 19.

WEDNESDAY

First Game

Servitek 64 - Bintz 13, Mateo 12, Villasan 11, Detera 10, Alvarez 4, Webb 4, Jacob 2, Esconde 2.

LD Prime 62 - Fleming 15, Esteves 12, R. Quemado 10, Isip 10, S. Quemado 6, Aldan 3, Lapuz 3, Correra 2, Toribio 1.

Scoring by quarters: 20-13, 34-28, 47-51, 64-62.

Second Game

Adobo 70 - Vertudez 25, S. Deleon Guerrero 14, Dela Cruz 10, Mamaril 10, Tadifa 4, Aranda 4, Alegre 3.

Morales 69 - Factor 26, Dayrit 14, Ibanez 11, Galulu 8, Morales 3, Bautista 2.

Scoring by quarters: 15-9 33-26, 51-48, 70-69.

MONDAY

Tumbaga 70 - Laret 24, Maranan 19, Tinio 7, Tangkoy 6, Santos 6, J. Deleon Guerrero 4, Daria 2, Sablan 2.

Chinatown 67 - Zapanta 20, Norita 17, Quizon 13, Solito 7, Avila 6, Dela Cruz 4.

Scoring by quarters: 14-18, 28-32, 52-49, 70-67.