Down-the-wire endings in 25-and-under league

Action in the second week of the BANMI 25-and-under Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium was highlighted by three down-the-wire bouts and a slam dunk.

The San Antonio Wildcats, Ulloa, and Hoopaholics each escaped with wins behind solid play in the dying moments, while Jeremy Winkfield capped a lopsided victory for the Toyota Prius with a one-hand slam Saturday afternoon.

Despite playing with only four cagers with less than three minutes remaining against a determined Garapan Rollers squad, the Hoopaholics mustered just enough juice to survive the scare with a 92-90 win.

The G-Rollers were firing at will behind the guns of Ryan Mendoza and Kelvin Fitial, and posted double-digit leads after each of the first three quarters and headed into the fourth with a 62-52 lead.

The Hoopaholics, however, would put up a desperate charge at the start of the final period and begin to inch into the G-Rollers’ lead. A shot from long distance by Jeremy Sablan closed the gap to just four points, 59-63, but Garapan would retaliate quickly and increase their lead back up to eight points on free throws by Mendoza and Fitial.

The two teams would swap baskets but with the score 72-63 in favor of the G-Rollers, the Hoopaholics would finally have their way. A 14-4 run gave them their first taste of the lead, 77-76, but sharpshooter Brian Flores would come back nailing a bomb from downtown to give the G-Rollers back the lead.

Sablan then fouled out—the fourth player to do so for Hoopaholics—resulting in only four players remaining for the team.

But successful drives by Peter Mendiola and James Villacrusis would give the Hoopholics the advantage and eventually the win after a misfire by the G-Rollers with time expiring.

Sablan led Hoopaholics with 22 points, while Jason Amado and Villacrusis punched in 19 points apiece and Mendiola 16.

Mendoza and Fitial paced the G-Rollers with 35 and 20 points, respectively.

In the curtain raiser, Julian Ranas heated the nets with 22 points and got solid support from J.R. Ngeskebei, Henry Sablan, and Ben Sablan as the Wildcats slipped past the Warriors, 78-77.

Jeremiah Deleon Guerrero and Jimmy Marquez led the Warriors in their debut with 30 and 14 points.

In the second game, Winkfield led seven Toyota Prius cagers in double figures with 23 points and shook the Ada Gym with his slam, driving the paint, leaping over a defender, and hurting the rim shortly before the game ended.

Prius led from beginning to end, beating the Sunrisers 93-59.

Slotman Jawn Joyner led the Sunrisers with 23 points.

In the third game, scoring-machine Fred Pelisamen was again superb offensively, pouring in a game-high 33 points, but it wasn’t enough as Josh Sablan and Ulloa went on to edge Pelisamen’s 7-Kings, 79-75.

Sablan led Ulloa with 22 points, while Tyrone Palacios and Dave Palacios pumped in 19 and 11 points.

Supporting Pelisamen was older brother Ben, who finished with 23 points.

First Game

Wildcats 78—Ranas 22, Ngeskebei 16, B. Sablan 13, H. Sablan 10, Yu 8, Kaipat 4, Kapileo 3, Echon 2.

Warriors 77—Deleon Guerrero 30, Marquez 14, Bozil 13, G. Lieto 8, R. Siedler 6, Suel 4, D. Seidler 2.

Scoring by halves: 34-35, 78-77.

Referees: Ricky Itaas and Noel Delos Santos.

Second Game

Toyota Prius 93—Winkfield 23, A. Ogumoro 11, Iguel 11, Lizama 11, Tagabuel 10, Olaitiman 10, A. Barcinas 10, K. Ogumoro 3, D. Barcinas 2, Seman 2.

Sunrisers 59—Joyner 23, Klinge 9, Peters 8, Benavente 8, Mendez 7, Castro 2.

Scoring by quarters: 25-13, 50-20, 76-36, 93-59.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Jess Pacheco.

Third Game

Ulloa 79—Josh Sablan 22, T. Palacios 19, D. Palacios 11, G. Palacios 10, John Sablan 9, Sampson 7.

7-Kings 75—F. Pelisamen 33, B. Pelisamen 23, Mangarero 9, Rabauliman 6, J. Kaipat 2, J. Pelisamen 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-12, 41-30, 60-50, 79-75.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Ray Lizama.

Fourth Game

Hoopaholics 92—Sablan 22, Villacrusis 19, Amado 19, Mendiola 16, Fejeran 12, Diaz 4.

G-Rollers 90—Mendoza 35, Fitial 20, Flores 13, Jose Tumaquip 6, Iguel 5, Chariton 4, Demapan 2, Jones 1, Teregeyo 1.

Scoring by quarters: 16-26, 29-40, 52-62, 92-90.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Jovie Omar.