DPS II lays down the law, NMC wins

Department of Public Safety II and Northern Marianas College posted contrasting wins in the resumption of 2004 Government Basketball League action Saturday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

DPS II flexed their muscles and put the cuffs on Saipan Mayor’s Office with an 83-58 pummeling in the first game. Defending champions NMC, meanwhile, survived a late-game uprising by Tinian to win 93-89.

After a shaky start, DPS II settled down and took control of the ballgame. DPS II allowed the Mayor’s Office to lead, 20-18, after the opening quarter but rebounded mightily in the second to take a 37-29 advantage at the turn.

DPS II would add on to their lead in the third quarter, as the Mayor’s Office had trouble putting the ball through the hoop. The score after three quarters of play was DPS II 57, Mayor’s Office 44.

The fourth and final quarter was no different from the last two, as DPS II frolicked on the long court and got away with easy baskets and ran up the score.

Only the 13 fourth-quarter points of Mario Palacios prevented a bigger a blowout than it was, as DPS II avoided the fate of sister team DPS I, which opened the season with a loss.

John Diaz chalked up 25 points to pace DPS II, while Jerry Ayuyu and Carl Hocog added 19 and 14 points, respectively.

Palacios finished with 21 to pace Mayor’s Office with hotshot Tony Luzama good for 19 points in the loss.

NMC, meanwhile, leaned on the blazing hands of scoring machine Tony Diaz, who almost single-handedly turned back Tinian with 12 of his evening-high 40 markers in the fourth and final quarter.

Diaz scored from all angles in the first, second, and third quarters to lead the islands’ lone tertiary institution to 20-13, 44-36, and 70-59 spreads in the first three quarters.

But all of a sudden and out of nowhere, Tinian rallied and closed the gap to as low as four points before the game clock expired, allowing NMC to escape with the win.

Former national player Jester Garcia and old-timer Ray MacDuff also banged in double-figure scores for NMC with 24 and 10 points.

Anthony Borja led a balanced attack by Tinian with 21 points. Jarvin Evangelista, Blake Manibusan, Frank Saures, and Keith Nabors pumped in 10 points or more for the all-star team from the south.

FIRST GAME

DPS II 83 – J. Diaz 25, Ayuyu 19, Hocog 14, Pangelinan 8, Quitugua 6, Taitano 4, Sablan 4, Kiyoshi 2, Camacho 1.

Saipan Mayor’s Office 58 – Palacios 21, Luzama 19, Demapan 8, Mizutani 4, Taisacan 3, Cruz 2, Kaipat 1.

Scoring by quarters: 18-20, 37-29, 57-44, 83-58.

Referees: Abner Venus and Jess Pacheco.

SECOND GAME

NMC 93 – T. Diaz 40, Garcia 24, MacDuff 10, Palacios 9, J. Diaz 6, Jhon 2, Castro 2.

Tinian 89 – Borja 21, Evangelista 14, B. Manibusan 11, Nabors 10, J. Manibusan 8, Saures 6, Pangelinan 6, Pascua 4, Hocog 4, Aldan 3, Mangona 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-13, 44-36, 70-59, 93-89.

Referees: Ricky Itaas and Dado Vistal.