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Sixers beat Suns to extend winning streak
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Posted on Oct 09 2008
The San Antonio Sixers notched their seventh win in a row in the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League after thwarting the Suns, 65-58, Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
It was not an easy win for the Sixers, as they were threatened by the Suns several times and the former never led by double digits throughout the game.
Crucial baskets from Ernest Duenas and Joe Ada helped the Sixers foil the Suns’ bid for an upset.
Duenas finished with 17 points, making four in the closing minutes of the match, while Ada chipped in seven, three of the Sixers’ last six points.
Duenas had only six points in the first half and the Sixers had a hard time getting full control of the game, leading by only seven at halftime, 33-26.
Josh Kiyoshi kept the Sixers within striking distance in the first half, drilling all his 11 points in that period. Kiyoshi drew help from Mariano Lisua in keeping the Suns afloat, adding six in the first 20 minutes of the game.
Ada, who was scoreless in the first half, started the second half with a triple and went on to team up with Duenas in leading the Sixers to a hard-earned victory.
While Ada found his rhythm in the second half, the Suns’ Kiyoshi went cold forcing Bryan Lisua to take the cudgels for their team. Bryan tallied 10 markers in the second half.
The Suns dropped to a 2-5 record, but are assured of a seat in the playoffs.
The Sixers are also in the playoffs, but still need to win their last game in the regular season to gain the pennant.
The Sixers will play the CNMI Junior Nationals on Oct. 15. The CNMI Junior Nationals are also unbeaten in five games and have a strong chance of taking the pennant away from the Sixers.
The CNMI Junior Nationals are this year’s defending champions beating the Southern Sonics in last year’s finals.
The Sixers won third place last season outlasting the Rollers I.
Five more games are left before the Rotary caging starts its playoff round, which will have a single-elimination format.
The remaining games will decide the playoff pairings. The No. 1 team will duel the No. 8 squad, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No.5.
The winners in the first round of the playoffs will advance to the semifinals.
[B]Sixers 65[/B] – E. Duenas 17, Pepito 8, Ada 7, M. Duenas 7, Salas 5, Benavente 4, Park 4, Feria 4, Ano 4, R. Duenas 3, C. Duenas 2. [B]Suns 58[/B] – Kiyoshi 11, R. Lisua 10, Brel 8, Yamada 6, M. Lisua 6, Maratita 6, Salas 5, Babauta 4, Calvo 2. [B]Scoring by halves:[/B] 33-26, 65-58.[B] Referees:[/B] Gilbert Espinosa and Eric Artillaga.
