Dai-Ichi, Toyota book final four appearances

Dai-Ichi Hotel and Toyota joined Mobil and Aqua Resort Club in the final four of the 4th Annual Mobil Oil Marianas Co-ed Invitational Basketball Tournament after outplaying separate opponents Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the first game, Dai-Ichi survived the ouster of playmaker Adonis Macoto and leaned on the offensive explosion of little known Gilbert Yape to hack out a 76-70 decision against Hyatt Regency Saipan.

The game was close in the first half with Dai-Ichi laboring for leads of only 3 and 5 points after the first and second quarters, respectively.

But Macoto and Yape suddenly waxed hot in the third period and powered Dai-Ichi to a 17-point cushion, 63-46, entering the fourth and final quarter.

Hyatt regrouped in the final 10 minutes. Led by off guard Mile Umali, the hoteliers charged from 15 points down to slice the lead to manageable proportions. And to make matters worse Macoto had to sit down after picking up his fifth and final foul.

Luckily for Dai-Ichi, veteran slotman Larry Lizo would muscle his way for a crucial 3-point play and Yape hit three key free throws to ice the game.

Macoto led Dai-Ichi with 23 points, while Yape and bruising power forward Tom Alegre added 20 and 17 points.

Umali was the highpoint man for Hyatt with a game-high 25, while gravity-defying swingman Edel Carino chipped in 17 markers.

In the second game, Toyota escaped with a 97-95 overtime victory over Commonwealth Utilities Corp. following crucial missed free throws from Jawn Joyner.

Down by 8 points with two minutes to go, CUC had a frantic comeback and forced extra period with a layup by George Poquiz.

Joyner single-handedly kept CUC afloat in overtime, scoring 7 of the team’s final 15 points.

But his counterpart in the Toyota side, former IVYBL MVP Kevin Cequena, proved more potent pumping in 8 markers in the extra session before a sprain relegated him to watch action from the bench.

Down 4 points with 10 seconds remaining, Toyota turned the ball over that led to a Derrick Reyes layup. After yet another steal, Joyner was fouled while attempting a final stab with 1.6 remaining. But as fate would have it, the 6’1” defensive specialist would misfire on both gift shots handing the victory to Toyota.

Cequena led Toyota with 31 points, while center Jorge De Guzman and forward John Capuyon added 19 and 14 points, respectively.

Joyner also scored 31 points. He got support from Oscar Sablan who fired 24 points before fouling out and Poquiz, who chipped in 20 points.

First Game

Dai-Ichi 76 – Macoto 23, Yape 20, Alegre 17, Lizo 7, De Vera 4, Andres 3, Galag 2.

Hyatt 70 – Umali 25, Carino 17, Kim 8, Vargas 5, Iwami 4, Joseph 4, Eina 4, Olekong 3.

Scoring by quarters: 17-14, 40-35, 63-46, 76-70.

Second Game

Toyota 97 – Cequena 31, De Guzman 19, Capuyon 14, Abuy 13, Pantola 13, Aspuria 4, Catalla 3.

CUC 95 – Joyner 31, Sablan 24, Poquiz 20, Reyes 10, Norita 8, Sheila 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-21, 39-39, 64-59, 80-80, 97-95, OT.