Saipan Tribune

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Monday, March 11, 2013

Susupe keeps playoff hopes alive

Susupe split its two make-up games last Friday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court to remain in contention for a playoff spot in Division B of the 2013 DLX/Anchor Strong Invitational Basketball League.

Susupe edged LD Prime in the first make-up match, 74-67, before bowing to Gualo Rai in the second game, 46-75, to improve to a 3-5 record for seventh place in the team standings behind Adobo (7-0), Chinatown (6-3), Sexy Boys (6-3), Gualo Rai (5-4), Maplas (4-3), and ICS Shooters (3-3), and ahead of the eliminated Servitek (1-6), and LD Prime (1-7).

The Top 2 teams after the elimination will get outright semis seats, while the next four will slug it out for the two remaining Final Four slots. The last four squads will be eliminated.

The Susupe-LD Prime tiff was first played on Feb. 20, but was rained out early in the first quarter, which ended with the former slightly ahead, 11-8. Susupe then began controlling the game in the second period and built a double-digit lead before LD Prime rallied in the fourth, but fell short.

Susupe got at least 6 points apiece from three different players in the second period, turning a shaky 3-point cushion to a 39-23 halftime advantage. Susupe continued to play balanced offense in the third period to keep its comfortable lead and then hit timely baskets in the fourth to thwart LD Prime's bid.

Julius Tabamo paced Susupe with his 17 points, while Chris Esteves placed LD Prime with his 22 markers.

In the second game, Susupe ran out of gas against a fresher Gualo Rai crew to miss back-to-back wins on the same night.

The Susupe-Gualo Rai tiff was also rained out and when it resumed in the third quarter, the latter upped its 21-point halftime lead (41-20), to 28, 60-32, to secure the win early. A 24-9 start powered Gualo Rai to the easy victory, as Prince Factor sizzled for 10 points in the first period.

Factor went on to top-score for Gualo Rai with his 18 markers, while Mike Espinosa and Mike Yap chipped in 17 and 14, respectively. Notably, no Susupe player broke into double figures in their 29-point loss.

Meanwhile, in the lone Division A game, Docomo Pacific downed the Chinatown Kings, 75-68.

The make-up match was first played early January with Docomo leading 56-42, before it rained in the closing minutes of the third. Docomo picked up where it left off, finishing the period with three straight triples for a commanding 68-48 advantage.

Ichitaro Faisao led Docomo with his 17 points despite missing the resumption of the game, while Elgene Mangali added 16, including back-to-back treys in the third-quarter breakaway.

DIVISION B

First Make-Up Game

Susupe 74 - Tabamo 17, Cadag 14, Lansang 6, Llgas 6, Diyco 5, Miguel 4, Buniag 4, Sevilla 2.

LD Prime 67 - Esteves 22, K. Quemado 12, Isip 11, Lapuz 8, Jugos 5, S. Quemado 4, Rivera 3.

Scoring by quarters: 11-8, 39-23, 63-48, 74-67.

Second Make-Up Game

Gualo Rai 75 - Factor 18, Espinosa 17, Yap 14, Ibanez 9, Galulu 4, Capuyon 3, Cayading 3, Fedelino 3.

Susupe 46 - Tabamo 8, Lansang 7, De Belen 6, Sevilla 4, Llagas 4, Manangan 4, Cadag 3, Miguel 2, Buniag 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-9, 41-20, 60-32, 75-46.

DIVISION A

Docomo Pacific 75 - Faisao 17, Mangali 16, Barbo 13, Sacramento 6, Montes 4, Cruz 2, Tudela 1.

Chinatown Kings 58 - Teregeyo 21, Lizama 11, Quizon 7, Acosta 6, Basa 6, Avila 3, Zapanta 2.

Scoring by quarters: 25-8, 37-34, 65-46, 75-58.