Saipan Tribune

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Maplas survives Susupe in OT

Maplas La Mane needed five extra minutes to thwart Susupe, 86-84, in a make-up game in Division B of the 2013 DLX/Anchor Strong Invitational Basketball League last Saturday at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Dennis Morales committed an errant pass in the closing seconds of the regulation, but made up for his booboo, scoring the last 3 points of Maplas in overtime to hand his team its first win and avoid back-to-back setbacks on the same night.

Maplas fell to Gualo Rai in the first game last Saturday, 65-66, and then played the last 10 minutes of its rained-out match against Susupe after the loss. Susupe was ahead at the end of the third quarter of their Friday game, 57-72, and had a chance to win it in regulation if not for Roy Miguel's butterfingers.

Miguel was hanging around in the paint and received Jomer Diyco's crosscourt pass. However, the former fumbled on his way to the basket and lost the ball to the baseline, as Maplas defenders clamped down on him.

Maplas also had an opportunity to pull off the win in regulation, as it was left with four seconds to orchestrate a play. However, Morales, instead of going strong to the basket, opted to kick the ball out to Josephus Aguilar and the pass was too strong, slipping from the latter's hands as time expired.

The game remained close in overtime with Susupe having its last taste of the lead at the 84-83 tally off J.R. Cadag's split charities with 12 seconds left on the clock. Another Maplas careless pass brought possession back to Susupe and later sent Chris Lansang to the foul line. Lansang went on to muff the two crucial free throws and when Maplas collared the rebound, Gerald Anicete fed Morales for a fastbreak layup. Morales made the shot, plus a foul to put Maplas on top, 85-84, 7.5 seconds remaining in the extended game.

Morales missed the bonus shot, but Anicete was there for another important rebound and was also fouled. The Maplas forward split his charities to up Maplas's lead to a deuce, 86-84.

Susupe was left with 3.4 seconds to make a shot, but failed to do so as it set up too far away from the basket. Lansang inbounded the ball from the sideline at mid-court and his pass to Cadag was deflected by Mico Usi. In the game reset, Lansang managed to give the ball to Diyco, but the former had his back turned to their frontcourt and was more than 30 feet away from the basket

Chinatown 77, Susupe 63

In the nightcap, Chinatown cruised to victory and handed Susupe back-to-back losses.

The tired Susupe crew managed to keep up with Chinatown only in the first quarter with the latter ahead by only 2 points, 20-18.

By the end of the second canto, Chinatown was enjoying a twin-digit advantage, 39-29, behind the 6 points apiece of Paul Quizon and Justin Zapanta. Jerome Norita then joined the attack in the third period to stretch the lead to 14, 59-44, and the trio continued to pile up points in the fourth for Chinatown's third straight win in four games.

Zapanta top-scored for Chinatown with his 26 markers, while Quizon and Norita chipped in 20 and 14, respectively. J.R. Mina paced Susupe with his 12 markers.

MAKE-UP

Maplas La Mane 86 - Morales 18, Cortez 17, Anicete 16, Odicta 8, Aguilar 6, Claveria 4, R. Usi 3, M. Usi 2.

Susupe 84 - Diyco 19, Cadag 18, Mina 12, Lansang 11, Sevilla 6, Banatasa 5, Buniag 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-19, 37-36, 52-57, 70-70, 86-84.

SATURDAY

Chinatown 77 - Zapanta 26, Quizon 20, Norita 14, Avila 8, Kimo 6, Aloka 2.

Susupe 63 - Mina 12, Miguel 11, Cadag 11, Banatasa 9, Diyco 6, Buniag 4, De Belen 2, Llagas 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-18, 39-29, 59-45, 77-63.