Nationals win as IT&E walks out

The CNMI Nationals were handed their first playoff win in the 2009 BANMI/Budweiser Basketball League even before the final buzzer sounded, as IT&E walked out of the game with 38 seconds remaining in the fourth period of their Wednesday match at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Most of IT&E players left the court after getting frustrated by two crucial calls. First was a blocking foul on John Artates, who was pressuring the Nationals’ Jomary Tumaquip at the top of the key.

IT&E coach Marvin Deocares and his players were up in arms after referee Dado Vistal made the call. Deocares continued to complain from the sidelines, while Artates went to midcourt, egging on IT&E supporters, who obviously did not like the call. Artates later went to their frontcourt, but according to Vistal, the IT&E player continued to say “unsportsmanlike” words, prompting the latter to charge the former with a technical foul.

The last call infuriated Deocares more, as IT&E was catching up with the Nationals, who were ahead by only three, 88-85, with 38 seconds left on the clock.

IT&E players then left the game one after another. Deocares remained on the court, still questioning the calls, while his player, Gyles Ruluked, tried to pacify him. Ruluked and Deocares then went out of the gym to encourage their players to finish the game, but to no avail.

While IT&E players and Deocares were out, Tumaquip stepped to the foul line for a pair of charities and split his free throws. Next up was Jericho Cruz for the technical free throws and he also split his charities, upping the Nationals’ lead to five, 90-85.

IT&E had a time out left and Deocares used that while still convincing his players to return to the game, but again he was unsuccessful.

The game resumed with the Nationals making an inbound and the moment Cruz received the pass from Tumaquip, referees stopped the play, awarding the win to the Nationals.

When asked if there will be sanctions against IT&E, league commissioner Gabriel White said none and the team just simply lost the game when it walked out.

Deocares told Saipan Tribune he intended to file a complaint against Vistal.

With the win, the Nationals advanced to the next round against Ol’Aces. The winner of the Nationals-Ol’Aces tiff on Monday (April 13) will face Diamond Auto Shop on Wednesday (April 15) for the last finals ticket.

Docomo secured the first finals berth after beating Diamond Monday night, 81-79.

CNMI Nationals 90 – Cruz 28, Tumaquip 21, Rabauliman 14, Iguel 14, Johnson 5, Babauta 4, Moses 2, White 2.

IT&E 85 – Bernardo 28, Abuel 15, Ruluked 14, De Dios 9, De Guzman 8, Ranola 4, Montano 4, Artates 3.

Scoring by quarters: 27-18, 41-48, 68-62, 90-85.