DOC, Legislature notch wins

Department of Corrections and Legislature took different routes in registering wins in the resumption of the 2008 PTI Inter-Government Business Basketball League Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the first game, Legislature escaped a stubborn Aguaguat five, 68-63, to raise its record to 2-5. The loss, meanwhile, was the third in four outings for Customs.

Pint-sized Ray Duenas got things going for the Capital Hill boys, scoring five of his 21 in the opening quarter to give Legislature a 21-17 lead going into the second quarter.

He then combined with Joel Punzalan in the second quarter, as the duo scored 15 of the team’s 22 points to help Legislature take a 43-37 spread at the half.

Jason Lizama took care of the scoring cudgels for Aguaguat in the third by torching the net for nine of his 21 points, but his effort was cancelled out by the Punzalan’s six and Ray Deleon Guerrero’s eight points—two of them triples—that kept Legislature on the driver’s seat, 68-63 heading into the final 10 minute of the contest.

Aguaguat still had a descent chance of turning tables on Legislature, trailing by only five entering the payoff period, but timely hits by Punzalan and Dave Apatang allowed the latter to escape with the win.

Deleon Guerrero led four Legislature players in double figures with 21, while Duenas, Apatang, and Punzalan added 18 or more in the victory.

Ryan Sablan scored a game-high 26 markers in the loss, while Jason Lizama and Reyes chipped in 21 and 15 points, respectively.

In the second game, Corrections improved its win-loss mark to 3-2 following its 98-66 demolition of Department of Public Works.

It was a no-contest from the get-go, as Corrections went ahead with an eight-point lead, 23-15, thanks to balance scoring in the first 10 minutes of action.

Walter Mendez then played the fireman’s role for DOC in the second, scoring six points to spark his team to a 41-29 advantage at intermission.

Jeff Quitugua then began to assert himself on offense in the third, igniting his team with eight of his team-high 23 points as Corrections continued to lord it over DPW with a 23-point buldge, 67-44, at the end of three quarters of play.

The game was essentially over at the start of the final frame, as both teams emptied their benches not soon after with Corrections dealing DPW its fourth loss in five games.

Mendez, Luis Iguel, and Peter Mendiola backed up Quitugua with 16, 12, and 10 points, respectively, while Edgar Pangelinan and John Guerrero paced DPW in the setback with 40 points between them.

Last week, Tinian dealt Department of Community and Cultural Affairs its second loss with a 123-98 win on Wednesday. On Monday, Bank of Guam demolished Commonwealth Ports Authority, 90-54, in the first game, while Northern Marianas College cruised to an 85-59 victory over Aguaguat in the second.

First Game

Legislature 87 – Deleon Guerrero 22, Duenas 21, Apatang 18, Punzalan 18, Bermudes 4, Guinto 2, Cabrera 2.

Aguaguat 83 – R. Sablan 26, J. Lizama 21, Reyes 15, Guerrero 10, J. Sablan 7, R. Lizama 4.

Scoring by quarters: 21-17, 43-37, 68-63, 87-83.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Jess Pabula.

Second Game

DOC 98 – Quitugua 23, Mendez 16, Iguel 12, Mendiola 10, Seman 8, Blas 8, Castro 7, Iramk 5, Kwon 5, Joab 4.

DPW 66 – E. Pangelinan 22, Guerrero 18, J. Pangelinan 12, Takai 10, Basa 2, Iglecias 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-15, 41-29, 67-44, 98-66.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Gilbert Espinosa.

Tanapag Falcons’ Oscar Sablan goes up to bat against Kabur’s Jason Hayes in the fifth inning of their 2008 Budweiser Saipan Major League game at the Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field Monday night.