CPA, Dai-Ichi work magic in clutch

League leaders Commonwealth Ports Authority and Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach had their stuff going for them late in their matches Tuesday night and squeezed past determined opponents in the ongoing Mobil Oil Mariana Islands Co-ed Basketball Invitational Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

CPA got another huge lift from high-scoring forward Dave Sablan, who rallied his team to a down-the-wire 109-98 victory over McDonald’s, while Ariel Jinang went nuts in the final 10 minutes to lift Dai-Ichi over defending champion Aqua Resort Club 82-79.

In the first game, Sablan and company held slim leads before losing it and regaining it just in time to fashion out the win.

Slotman Jawn Joyner helped CPA get off on the right foot, hitting a couple of field goals and making good on five out of six chances at the charity stripe, propelling his team to a 26-20 lead after the first period.

The tightly fought battle carried over to the second quarter, with Sablan breaking through for 12 points for CPA and Gel Gapuz pumping in 10 points for the popular fast food restaurant. McDonald’s managed to put a small dent on CPA’s lead and trailed by four points at the end of the half, 45-49.

McDonald’s finally got over the hump, doing it in the third stanza as hotshot Michael Achas and forward William Upone got into a comfortable rhythm and went off for 12 and 11 points.

With the two swooshing the net at will, McDonald’s managed to outscore the opposition, 32-25, to take a 77-74 lead heading into the payoff period.

The McDonald’s cagers held their ground for much of the fourth, and even got Joyner to foul out midway through the quarter.

Sablan, the other half of CPA’s one-two punch, then took it upon himself to lead his team and began attacking the lane each time down the court, tormenting the McDonald’s defense with acrobatic layups, several of which found the bottom of the net while being fouled.

CPA managed to overcome the deficit, with Sablan punching in 17 points, and held on for the win.

Sablan led all scorers with 41 points, while Jerome Reyes and Joyner pumped in 20 and 15 points for CPA.

Upone and Achas both had solid outings and finished with 33 and 32 points, while Gapuz contributed with 23 points for McDonald’s.

In the second bout, Jinang provided the spark Dai-Ichi needed, scoring all 13 of his points in crunch time to lead the team to victory.

The two hotel teams were neck and neck in the first period, each putting up 19 points to their corner.

The defending champions then turned to center Dalewin Cortez, who lived up to the expectations and drilled 10 markers, while also drawing four fouls.

While ARC maintained its scoring ways, Dai-Ichi hit a cold spell and put up just 13 points, while allowing the hotel from the north side to score 23 points, giving ARC a 42-32 cushion at the break.

Cagebelle Noe Okohira then took charge for Dai-Ichi and drilled a triple plus two field goals and three free throws to help her team close in. With one period remaining, Dai-Ichi moved into striking distance and only trailed 57-62.

That’s when Jinang stole the show, beginning his push with a free throw followed by a field goal and a bomb from downtown. The forward kept the hot hand and Dai-Ichi fed off his energy to pull off the successful comeback.

Elmer Esdrelon led Dai-Ichi with 23 points, while Adonis Macoto and Okohira added 18 and 12 points, respectively.

Cortez paced ARC with 34 points, while J.E. Torres and Bogs Dayrit supported him with 18 and 13 points.

First Game
CPA 109—D. Sablan 41, Reyes 20, Joyner 15, C. Sablan 9, Elisar 7, R. Sablan 4, celis 4, Gerald 2.
McDonald’s 98—Upone 33, M. Achas 32, Gapuz 23, Balbuena 4, Gueteres 2, J. Achas 2, Yang 1.
Scoring by quarters: 26-20, 49-45, 74-77, 109-98.
Referees: Jess Pacheco and Ray Lizama.

Second Game
Dai-Ichi 82—Esdrelon 23, Macoto 18, Jinang 13, Okohira 12, Alegre 8, Lizo 4, Douglas 2, tobias 2, Arguelles 2.
ARC 79—Cortez 34, Torres 18, Dayrit 13, Bojocan 4, Sorema 4.
Scoring by quarters: 19-19, 32-42, 57-62, 82-79.
Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Dado Vistal.