Contrasting wins for GEC, TASI Tours

GEC Pawnshop and TASI Tours scored contrasting wins as action continued in the FMI Inter-Color Basketball League last Friday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Pawnbrokers rallied from a double-digit halftime deficit to edge the Taga Warriors, 86-82, in the masters division, while in the open class the Giants coasted to a 97-64 win over the still struggling Star Water.

GEC’s win allowed them to occupy second place in the five-team field with a 3-1 record behind Bank of Saipan’s unbeaten 3-0 slate. The loss ended the Warriors’ two-game winning run dropping them to third with a 2-1 mark .

The Warriors led from the start and seemed headed for an easy win when they built an 11-point halftime advantage but could not close out the deal against the Pawnbrokers in the final canto.

Sahnee Rañola piloted the Pawnbrokers’ second half comeback firing two 3-pointers and went 3-for-5 at the free throw line to complete GEC’s triumph. He also scored 21 of his game-high 33 points in the second half.

Amor Casabuena, held scoreless in the second period, drilled in 14 in the second half to finish with 20 points providing the needed offensive support to Rañola.

Larry Palero and Andy Viola scattered 11 and 10 more also for the Pawnbrokers.

Danny Bicera led the Warriors with 18 points, while Ed Cosino and Jun Abedes added 15 and 14 apiece with Elmer Pineda chipping in 12 markers.

In the second game, wily point guard Pando Muleta fired nine points in the third quarter to anchor the Giants break away. He finished with 13 markers and orchestrated the TASI Tours five’s offense.

Ehroll Peredo paced the Giants with 20 points, while Rañola, who led GEC to victory in the first game, proved he still has enough fuel in his tank, finished with 17 markers.

Bernard Aquino had 12 points, while Bicera, who played against Rañola in the Masters division, also scored 12 more for the Giants.

Sherwin Samson scored 15 points to lead the Waterkings, who missed the scoring savvy of main man Krisgel Arreza. Ryan Achas added 11 points while Gil Gapor, Ryan Odista, and George Villasan combined for 18 more.

The Advance X-Terminators, GEC Pawnshop, and Bank of Saipan were playing against MIGS, Price Costco, and the Taga Warriors in the open and masters division at press time. Results were not yet available as of this writing.

On Wednesday, the CTSI Pacers open up the games against the still winless Fixers in the 6:30pm masters division game, while the star-studded Ol’Aces shoots for its sixth straight win against the X-Terminators in the nightcap.

On May 9, Friday, the Warriors will try to avenge its first round loss against the Pawnbrokers in the masters class when they clash in the opening match while the Giants meet SMF-Seabridge in the 8pm contest.
[B] First Game[/B]

GEC Pawnshop 86 – Rañola 33, Casabuena 20, Palero 11, Viola 10, Celes 4, Culala 4, Olivos 4.

Taga Warriors 82 – Bicera 18, Cosino 15, Abedes 14, Pineda 12, Dizon 7, Nicdao 6, Banaag 4, Cruz 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-21, 32-43, 61-65, 86-82.

Referees: Jess Pabula and Dado Vistal.

TASI Tours Giants 97 – E. Peredo 20, Rañola 17, Muleta 13, Aquino 12, Bicera 12, R. Peredo 7, Talania 6, De Belen 5, Factor 3, Cosino2.

Star Water 64 – Samson 15, R. Achas 11, Gapor 6, Odista 6, Villasan 6, Asuncion 5, Mateo 4, Sacramento 4, Montano 3, Bunao 2, Rapanut 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-14, 36-28, 62-41, 97-64.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Michael A. White.