Mariana Resort back on track

Mariana Resort’s Joseph Galulu pulls up for a jumper against PIC Chefs defenders during an earlier game in the Emon Lodge-Docomo Pacific Cup at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

With the victory, Marianas Resort improved to a 3-1 record and stays in second place in the team standings behind the unbeaten Blue Haus (3-0), which incidentally halted the former’s three-game winning streak two weeks ago. Mariana Resort had a weeklong break after absorbing its first loss in the league and came out strong when it returned to court against the winless Degree (0-4), dominating the match from start to finish.

Jorge De Guzman fired up Mariana Resort’s offense, scoring six of the team’s first 10 points, while Joseph Galulu and Boy Garcia combined for eight of the squad’s last 10 markers for their 20-13 advantage. Degree trailed right in the first period, as it made only five field goals and only Alex Ocampo hit more than one basket in the first 10 minutes of play.

Field goals were still hard to come by for Degree in the second canto, as it tallied only 10 points . Again, only one Degree player managed to nail more than one basket in the second period with Edong Echavez converting back-to-back shots to end the scoring for Degree. Fortunately for Degree, Mariana Resort did not perform well on offense either, recording only 14 points. De Guzman added six more points in the second frame to up Mariana Resort’s advantage to 11, 34-23.

In the third canto, neither team broke into the 20-point barrier, anew, but Mariana Resort still outgunned Degree to stretch its lead to 16, 52-36, entering the payoff frame. Seven different players hit the board for Mariana Resort in the third quarter, while Degree leaned on six players.

Degree continued to draw points from multiple players in the fourth, but this was not enough to put them back in the game, as Mariana Resort also distributed the wealth in the final canto to keep its safe distance and spoil the former’s bid to enter the win column.

De Guzman led all scorers with his 22 pints, while Joseph Galulu chipped in 12. Jun Alipio, Boy Garcia, and Elmer Pineda combined for 25 points to complete Mariana Resort’s balance offense. Ocampo had 14 for Degree, while Jinang had a quiet 11 markers, scoring only one field goal apiece in the first three quarters before knocking in one triple and a two-point field goal in the fourth.

Meanwhile, Armatech and I Love Saipan played in the second game of the Docomo Pacific Cup and results of the will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Thursday edition.

Mariana Resort 77 – De Guzman 22, Galulu 12, Alipio 9, Garcia 8, Pineda 8, Stohle 5, de la Torre 5, Cortez 4, Abuan 3.

Degree 59 – Ocampo 14, Jinang 11, Sampang 8, Geli 7, Catungal 6, Echavez 4, Surima 4, Ebuen 3.

Scoring by quarters: 20-13, 34-23, 52-36, 77-59.