Saipan Tribune

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Adobo sweeps season; ICS ousted

Adobo and the ICS Shooters had mix fortunes after their separate games in Division B of the 2013 DLX/Anchor Strong Invitational Basketball League last Monday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Adobo marched into the semifinals with a perfect 9-0 record, following a 95-65 rout of Servitek (1-8) in the second match of the night, while the ICS Shooters (3-6) was eliminated after a monumental collapse against LD Prime (2-7) in a make-up game, 82-76.

With ICS joining Servitek and LD Prime on vacation, only one more team will be booted out of the competition. The choice will be between Susupe (3-5) and JWS (2-4), which will collide in an important game tonight. JWS will also meet Maplas in a make-up game and will need two victories to advance to the playoffs for the last two semis seat and oust Susupe. Maplas with its 5-3 record is trying to get the second outright semis berth.

Adobo secured the first automatic semis ticket as early as its seventh game and capped its immaculate slate in the round-robin elimination with a bang, following a thrashing of the hapless Servitek.

The division top finisher gave Servitek no opportunity for an upset, establishing an early twin-digit lead in the opening quarter, 23-13 before completely dominating the match in the last three quarters.

The ICS Shooters also looked promising in the second game when it took a 55-40 advantage after the third period.

However, LD Prime saved its best for last, outgunning the ICS Shooters in the final canto, 42-21, to pull off a big come-from-behind win and deny its foe a chance to enter the next round of the competition. Had ICS Shooters won, it could still force a tie with Susupe and JWS for the last playoff berth.

Kenneth Quemado led LD Prime's strong finish, scoring 22 of his 35 points in the fourth canto, while Chris Esteves added 7.

Webby Guntar paced the ICS Shooters with his 23 points. He had 8 of his team's first 10 points when their Feb. 18 match was rained-out and rescheduled with 3:01 left in the first quarter and LD Prime was on top, 10-8.

When the game resumed Renan Lansang picked up where Guntar left off, dropping 12 of his 15 markers in the first half to pad the ICS Shooters' lead to 11 at the break, 37-26.

LD Prime trailed in the first half, as it could not get its rhythm and its so-so offense continued in the third period, allowing the ICS Shooters to stretch the lead to 15 at the end of the third canto.

Then in the fourth frame, Quemado anchored LD Prime's surge, canning three straight baskets, while his teammates began to contribute, too, to foil the ICS Shooters' playoff bid.

First Game

LD Prime 82 - Quemado 35, Esteves 11, Fleming 8, Toribio 7, Aldan 6, Lapuz 6, Isip 6, Rivera 4, Cerehera 2, Jugos 1.

ICS Shooters 76 - Guntar 23, R. Lansang 18, David 16, Tala 5, Espinosa 4, Corotan 4.

Scoring by quarters: 12-17, 26-37, 40-55, 82-76.

Second Game

Adobo 95 - Dela Cruz 23, Saturno 17, Yap 14, Aranda 12, Mamaril 9, Vertudez 8, Alegre 8, Camacho 4,

Servitek 65 - Alvarez 16, Detera 14, Esconde 13, Sebuu 10, Villasan 3, Salazar 3.

Scoring by quarters: 23-13, 47-27, 74-40, 95-65.