Saipan Tribune

Monday, May 20, 2013

Friday, March 08, 2013

Gualo Rai secures playoff seat

Gualo Rai notched a playoff berth in the Division B of the 2013 DLX/Anchor Strong Invitational Basketball League after pulling off an 83-75 upset over second-running Sexy Boys last Wednesday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Gualo Rai now has a 4-4 record with one game left in the regular season and is in fifth place, based on the unofficial team standings, which shows Adobo in first place with a perfect 7-0 record. The Sexy Boys dropped to a 6-3 record for a share of second place with the Chinatown and is followed by Maplas (4-3), JWS (2-4), ICS Shooters (3-3), Susuper (2-4), and Servitek and LD Prime, who hold similar 1-6 slates. The Top 2 teams after the elimination will move automatically to the semis, while the next four will battle for the two remaining Final Four slots. The last four squads will be booted out.

A 30-point explosion in the third quarter allowed Gualo Rai to cruise to victory, as it turned a 36-27 halftime advantage to a commanding 66-46 lead. Gualo Rai shot four triples in the third-quarter breakaway and had four players scoring more than three baskets apiece to stun the Sexy Boys.

Five Gualo Rai players went on to finish in double figures in their fourth win. Joseph Galulu had 20 markers, Mike Espinosa chipped in 15, Prince Factor added 12, and Marlou Ibanez and Justin Cayading contributed 11 each.

John Larot paced the Sexy Boys with his game-high 28 points. The Sexy Boys scored no more than 20 points in each quarter to give Gualo Rai control of the match and faltered on its comeback bid in the fourth despite connecting on four triples in the homestretch.

Susupe 64, Servitek 53

In the second game, Susupe kept its playoff hopes alive after beating Servitek (1-6). Susupe held Servitek to 20 points in the second half to improve to a 2-4 record and push Servitek to the exit door.

Servitek lost the match despite taking a 38-29 halftime edge. Mican Bintz drained 8 of his 12 points in the second quarter for Servitek, turning a 12-14 deficit to a 9-point advantage at the break.

Bintz was then held to a field goal in the third and the rest of his teammates struggled, too, while Juluis Tabado made 8 markers in that canto to put Susupe in the driver's seat, 48-45. Susupe hung on to the lead, as Servitek was limited to 8 points in the final canto.

First Game

Susuper 64 - Lansang 21, Tabamo 14, Diyco 8, Sevilla 6, De Belen 5, Cadag 4, Llagas 2.

Servitek 53 - Bintz 12, Brennan 10, Salazar 7. Capuyon 6, Sebuu 6, Detera 4, Alvarez 2, Webb 2, Esconde 2, Villasan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-14, 29-38, 48-45, 64-53.

Second Game

Gualo Rai 83 - Galulu 20, Espinosa 15, Factor 12, Ibanez 11, Cayaading 11, Yap 5, Capuyon 4.

Sexy Boys 75 - Larot 28, Tinio 17, Maranan 11, Ro. Deleon Guerrero 5, Abantar 4, Rosario 2, Daria 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-14, 36-27, 66-46, 83-75.