Hyatt vs. Aqua in Tinian caging finals

Hyatt Regency Saipan and Aqua Resort Club recorded contrasting wins Monday night at the Tinian Municipal Gymnasium to arrange their title duel in the 2009 Budweiser Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino Invitational Basketball League.

Hyatt pulled off a come-from-behind 96-92 win over Pacific Islands Club to notch the first finals seat, while Aqua Resort Club advanced to the championship game after dominating Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan/Saipan Grand Hotel, 97-92.

Behind by 10 at the end of the third period, 58-68, Jericho Cruz and Bernard Aquino brought Hyatt back into the game. Cruz fired 16 of his 27 points in the payoff period, while Aquino nailed 14, as Hyatt outgunned PIC, 38-14, in the final canto to steal the win.

PIC led by eight in the first quarter, 24-16, as James Abuy canned three early triples and Ryan Sanciangco added eight points. PIC kept the driver’s seat at halftime, 42-37, with forward Darwin Barbo asserting his might in the paint and making seven points in the second period.

Barbo picked up where he left of in the third, adding 10 more points, while Sanciangco was also on target in that period, scoring eight to give PIC a double-digit lead, entering the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately, Barbo went cold in the crucial fourth period, drilling only four free throws, and Sanciangco was the only PIC player to make more than a field goal in the last quarter. Sanciangco had 10 points, but it was not enough to offset the combined production of Aquino and Cruz.

In the second game, Aqua began pulling away in the second period and withstood Fiesta/Grand’s rally in the fourth to set a title showdown against Hyatt.

Aqua led by only three after the first period, 22-19, but a 27-16 run in the second gave the team a 49-35 halftime lead with Kelvin Fitial and James Camacho making 10 points apiece in the second quarter.

Fitial, Gil Gapor, and Jun Estolas made it a 21-point lead, 75-54, going into the fourth period, before Bonbon Cadagat and Elmer Esdrelon teamed up in Fiesta/Grand comeback in the fourth that ultimately fell short.

The Hyatt-Aqua title game will be played on Monday at 6pm. Fiesta/Grand will meet PIC for the consolation match at 3:30 pm.

First Game

Hyatt 96 – Aquino 29, Cruz 27, Arreza 12, Mendoza 8, Umali 4, Lizama 4, Libuw 4, Magno 4, Vargas 3.

PIC 92 – Sanciangco 30, Barbo 24, Abuy 24, Tolentino 5, Babauta 5, Kasian 4, Williams 3, Fernandez 2, Kaipat 2, Pepito 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-24, 37-41, 58-68, 96-92.

Second Game

Aqua 97 – Fitial 24, Estolas 27, Camacho 19, Gapor 17, Ruluked 10, Torres 2, Aquino 2, Johanes 2.

Fiesta/Grand 92 – Cadagat 32, Esdrelon 28, Palero 11, Usi 6, Ong 6, Carino 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-19, 49—35, 75-54, 97-92.