Alliana’s, Team Legends to vie for B League champs

Alliana’s and Team Legends are the last teams standing in the Pacific Saipan Inc. Promo Invitational Basketball League.

Alliana’s claimed the first finals spot after they swept the floor with Bourbon Bar & Café, 78-58, while Legends wiped out the Guardians, 75-64, last Thursday at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

The Guardians and Bourbon Bar & Cafe will duke it out for third place this Wednesday, Jan. 3, 6pm with the championship game to follow after.

Alliana’s put up the better fight against Bourbon as they whooped them into a drunken stupor by the start of the second half.

Bourbon wasn’t too far away at the end of the second quarter, 33-41, but Alliana’s broke down their defense to almost nothing with back-to-back 3-pointers and fast-break conversions after half-time.

In the blink of an eye, the 8-point Alliana’s lead turned into a 16-point deficit by the fourth quarter. It was thanks to Meriales who led the team with his 21 markers, while Tengco gave 13 points, and Richard Mendoza scored 11.

For Bourbon, Marlon Binuya gave it all he got with 19 points, while July Narciso scored 10, and Paul Manansala put up nine.

The Legends went through the wringer against the Guardians as both teams engaged in a point-scoring tug-of-war. Both teams have faced off a few times in the league and expected some sort of advantage over the other, and it was evident in their gameplay throughout the semis.

It was a close scoring first quarter, as the Legends hung on with a 2-point 16-14 lead. Jimboy Tabora and Jun Tabora were a duo to be reckoned with in the first two quarters with drives and field goals that summed the first half with 17 total points.

However, the Guardians tipped the favor slightly to their side with a 3-point 32-29 score at the end of the third quarter.

The Guardians’ Jomari Dela Cruz took care of the 3-point zone, while Manuel Gatbunton rallied from the inside to try to take the win all the way home, but the last minutes of the game was marred with crucial free throws to a once again leading Legends.

Both Taboras went back-to-back-to-back from the free throw line and came away with the win by a nine-point deficit.

Gatbunton put up 17 points, followed by Dela Cruz’ 15, and Jerome Directo’s and Jann Godoy’s 10 markers each. Legend’s Jimboy Tabora scored 20, while Jun Tabora was right behind with 19 points.

First Game

Alliana’s 78 – Meriales 21, Tengco 13, Mendoza 11, Broncano 10, Alcantara 9, Leightly 5, Juandale 4, Armas 3, Kenichi 2.

Bourbon Street Bar & Cafe 58 – Binuya 10, Narciso 10, Manansala 9, Jose 8, Guinhawa 6, Esmores 2, Francisco 2, Lopez 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-14, 41-33, 60-44, 78-58.

Second Game

Legends 75 – Ji. Tabora 20, Ju. Tabora 19, Tibayan 11, P. Tabora 10, Ege 9, JM Tabora 3, Discartin 2, Zapata 1.

Guardians 64 – Gatbunton 17, Dela Cruz 15, Directo 10, Godoy 10, George 5, Villocero 5, Gonzalez 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-14, 29-32, 54-48, 75-64.