Hoops, Ulloa continue winning ways

The SaipanCell Hoopaholics kept pace with Toyota Prius in the fight for holding the top spot in the team standings of the BANMI 25-and-Under Basketball League while Ulloa picked up its third win in four games Saturday afternoon at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Hoopaholics, however, had their work cut out for them from beginning to end as they received stiff competition from a determined San Vicente Sunrisers squad before slipping by with a thrilling 97-95 down-the-wire victory.

Desperate to break into the win column, the Sunrisers played tough ball and matched Team Hoops point for point in the first 10 minutes of play to end the first quarter all even at 23 apiece.

No one would manage to break open as both teams continued to match each others’ firepower, with the Sunrisers leaning on scoring machine Dave Sablan and Hoopaholics on successful drives by Jason Amado. The Sunrisers, however, managed to power up a two-point breathing room at the break, 42-40.

The back-and-forth trend resumed and neither team was willing to give up ground. Sablan and Jawn Joyner would take over the offensive load for the Sunrisers, each scoring nine points, while forward James Villacrusis poured in well-played minutes for the Hoopaholics with 11 points. A fast-break bucket by Amado gave Team Hoops a slim 70-69 lead as the match headed into crunch time.

The Sunrisers would regain the advantage on shots by Walter Mendez and Sablan, but a shot from downtown by Jeremy Sablan, an acrobatic lay up by Amado, a baseline drive by Justin Fejeran, and free throws by Sivas Awes would tie the game, 88-88.

But the sun was still shining for San Vicente as they managed to knot the score again.

Team Hoops would then go ballistic, going on a 5-0 run, converting on several miscues by the Sunrisers behind the inside play of Sivas Awes, but just when it seemed they were about to put the game away, the Sunrisers closed in with Joyner nailing a lay up and a huge long-range jumper to bring hope back to the Sunrisers’ corner, cutting the lead to 95-96 with only seconds remaining.

The Sunrisers managed to steal the inbounds pass but failed to convert on a driving shot resulting in Team Hoops pulling off the win.

Amado and Villacrusis led Hoopaholics with 27 and 19 points, while Sablan pitched in with 13 points.

Dave Sablan pumped in a game-high 36 points, while Joyner and Jess Castro finished with 20 and 13 points for the Sunrisers.

Earlier, Ulloa bounced back from their first defeat with a 96-64 blowout of Tanapag Warriors.

First-half action was pretty close, however, Ulloa would step on the gas pedal and speed away in the third quarter with a balanced attack that put the game out of reach, 74-39.

It was cruise control from there for the Ulloa cagers as they easily sealed the deal for the 32-point victory margin.

Jason Sablan punched in 22 points to lead five Ulloas in double figures, while Gus Palacios and John Sablan contributed 19 and 18 points.

Jimmy Marquez topped the Warriors, behind his hot outside shooting, hitting five triples and finishing with 21 points, while Joey Dela Cruz and Jordan Suel added 13 and 10 points in a losing cause.

First game

Ulloa 96—Ja. Sablan 22, G. Palacios 19, Joh. Sablan 18, T. Palacios 15, Sampson 10, D. Palacios 5, Maratita 4, Jos. Sablan 3.

Warriors 64—Marquez 21, Dela Cruz 13, Suel 10, San Nicolas 8, Magofna 8, Kani 2, Quitugua 1.

Scoring by quarters: 16-16, 36-32, 74-39, 96-64.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Noel Delos Santos.

Second game

Hoopaholics 97—Amado 27, Villacrusis 19, Sablan 13, Manibusan 9, Mendiola 8, Diaz 7, Fejeran 6, Awes 5, Kapwich 3.

Sunrisers 95—Sablan 36, Joyner 20, Castro 13, Mendez 11, Klinge 9, Peters 4, Mizutani 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-23, 40-42, 70-69, 97-95.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Jess Pacheco.