Mobil, Microl successful in co-ed caging

Action in the 6th Mobil Oil Marianas Co-ed Invitational Basketball League continued Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, with host Mobil breaking into the win column and Microl-Toyota picking up win No. 2.

Mobil had 12 different players score and had another big game from veteran cage belle Beverly Igitol to beat the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., 109-96.

Igitol, a member of the CNMI women’s National team that will compete in the 6th Micronesian Games, was phenomenal from the start as she poured in 12 points in the opening period to help Mobil take a 26-21 lead.

Mobil hit turbo mode in the second quarter as Ronald Delos Reyes, Junar Guiab, Errol Peredo, Andres Estolas took care of business and combined to score all of Mobil’s 33 points. While Mobil was having its way, CUC had troubles and couldn’t keep up, resulting in a 59-38 Mobil lead at the break.

Igitol returned to action and lit up the scoreboard for another 11 points, but CUC was able to keep pace and prevented their opponents from pulling farther ahead. Tony Diaz, Mel Tagabuel, and George Poquiz led the CUC charge but the team still trailed by 21 heading into the final quarter, 63-84.

Diaz Tagabuel, Poquiz, and Glen Dikito tried to push CUC closer, but their efforts were not enough to get over the hill.

Igitol and Delos Reyes led Mobil with 23 and 18 points, while Estolas and Guiab added 10 points apiece.

Diaz and Tagabueld led CUC with 33 and 19 points, while Poquiz and Dikito finished with 14 and 11 points.

In the second game, Kevin Cequena went off for 33 points to lead Microl to a 119-82 romp of Saipan Ice & Water Co.

Saipan Ice was in contention in the first half and trailed by just nine points, 46-55, as Bernard Montano and Jun Tabora pumped in 17 and 12 points, but Cequena and company were too strong as the team broke the game wide open in the second half with a balanced attack to claim their second win in three games.

Mark Mendoza was strong in support for Toyota with 22 points, while James Abuy and Jolan Mendoza contributed 15 and 13 points. Lito Ignacio also pumped in11 points.

Montano and Bernard Samson led Saipan Ice with 25 and 16 points, while Tabora and Richard Pambid added 14 and 12 points.

First Game
Mobil 109 – Igitol 23, Delos Reyes 18, Estolas 10, Guiab 10, Canlas 9, Peredo 9, Capalad 8, Aranda 7, Calrote 6, Ritual 6, Catacutan 2, Villarin 2.
CUC 96 – Diaz 33, Tagabuel 19, Poquiz 14, Dikito 11, Norita 6, Marchadesch 4, N. Lebria 3, Lieto 2.
Scoring by quarters: 26-21, 59-38, 84-63, 109-96.
Referees: Gilbert Espinosa and Eric Artillaga.

Second Game
Toyota 119 – Cequena 33, M. Mendoza 22, Abuy 15, J. Mendoza 13, Ignacio 11, De Dios 7, Factor 7, Abuan 4, Catalla 4, Batoon 2, De Guzman 2.
Saipan Ice 82 – Montano 25, Samson 16, Tabora 14, Pambid 12, Dela Torre 7, Lopez 4, Balaraso 2.
Scoring by quarters: 27-20, 55-46, 78-59, 119-82.
Referees: Gilbert Espinosa and Eric Artillaga.