Phenoms, Sixers in finals

It’s Phenoms and Sixers for the championship. The Phenoms eliminated a determined Get Covered Surf squad 65-57 due largely to the Jordan-like ability of Freddy Pelisiman to come up with big plays in crunch time and big time games.

Phenoms were without the services of Pelisiman for the first 10 minutes of the game and Get Covered Surf took advantage of his absence as they took a commanding 18-4 lead just minutes into the game.

When Pelisiman finally entered the game, GCS had a comfortable double digit lead and maintained its advantage through most of the first half.

But the shot of the game came with about three seconds left on the clock when GCS had just scored to take a 29-20 lead going into half, when Pelisiman took an inbound pass at half-court and heaved a three pointer off the backboard as time expired to pull his team to within six, 23-29.

In the second half, the “Freddy Pelisiman show” took center stage as he scorched GCS for 23 of his total 34 total points and the victory. The Phenoms will now have a chance of matching the Ol’Aces record as the only team to three-peat as Saipan Rotary Club champions.

Nathan Sablan and Peter Mendiola, in a valiant effort, led GCS with 22 and 18 points, respectively.

In the nightcap, the San Antonio Sixers stunned the Ol’Aces 74-70. Led by John Sablan’s game high 25 points, the Sixers jumped out to an early 24-9 lead and maintained a 42-35 advantage at halftime.

In the second half, the Ol’Aces pressure defense led by Chris Idip and Gyles Ruluked tied the game 56-56 with 8:43 remaining in the game.

The Ol’Aces eventually took a 6-point lead with a little of 4:00 remaining, but poor free throw shooting by the Ol’Aces (12-27) proved to be the difference as the Sixers connected with a remarkable 22-28 at the foul line to edge out the Ace’s, 74-70.

John Sablan led the Sixers with 25 points, going 8-10 at the foul line while teammate Henry Sablan chipped in with 19 points, 11 rebounds while shooting 5-6 at the charity line.

For the Ol’Aces, Chris Idip managed 15 points, 5 steals while Gyles Ruluked contributed 14 points and 6 rebounds.

In the consolation game today Get Covered Surf will face the Ol’Aces at 5:30 p.m. while the championship match between the Phenoms and Sixers tip off at 7:00 p.m.