Mobil, Aqua Resort arrange finals tiff

Host Mobil and powerhouse Aqua Resort Club will slug it out for the championship of the 4th Annual Mobil Oil Marianas Co-ed Invitational Basketball Tournament after both ball clubs drubbed separate opponents Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the first game, Aqua Resort ran on all cylinders after a nip-and-tuck opening quarter to rout a visibly overmatched Dai-Ichi Hotel team, 81-63.

Dai-Ichi only managed to make a game of it in the first 10 minutes of the ballgame but still trailed 15-16.

The taller and quicker Aqua Resort players then turned on the afterburners in the second quarter despite the best efforts of veteran power forward Tom Alegre.

Led by silky-smooth forward Marco Garcia’s all-around play and 6’3” Dalewin Cortez’ inside presence, the hoteliers took command and erected a 42-27 spread at the break.

Ziddy Johannes was also a pleasant surprise for Aqua Resort as the former Tanapag Warrior playmaker pumped in all 10 of his points in the first half.

Dai-Ichi tried to rally in the third but the trio of Garcia, Cortez, and do-it-all forward Bogs Dayrit thwarted every attempt made by the Garapan-based hotel.

It was all over but the shouting midway through the fourth quarter with Aqua Resort finally resting its regulars.

Dai-Ichi sparkplug Adonis Macoto scattered 8 points in the payoff period, but it was not enough to prevent Aqua Resort from celebrating the 18-point win.

Garcia led Aqua Resort’s charge with 20 markers, Cortez added 17 and Dayrit was good for 11 points.

Macoto led Dai-Ichi’s losing cause with a game-high 22 markers, while Alegre and long-range shooter Gilbert Yape wound up with 17 and 10 points, respectively.

Mobil then took advantage of Toyota’s lack of lady players to hack out a 103-39 decision in the second game.

With literally no one to oppose CNMI national team player Beverly Igitol’s path to the basket, Mobil stormed out of the gates and began the carnage leading 32-10 after the first 10 minutes of action.

Toyota still had no answers even with Igitol sitting down in the second quarter, as commercial league veterans Jhun Estolas, Ryan Mendoza and Junar Guiab took the cudgels for Mobil, which led 54-38 at the half.

The lead only grew even bigger in the third with Igitol back on the floor and Toyota was officially on life support trailing 53-79 going into the fourth and final quarter.

Mobil then delivered the coup de grace in the fourth with another offensive explosion anchored, this time, by its reserves.

Igitol paced Mobil with 29 points, while Mendoza, Guiab, and Estolas chipped in 14 points or better for the pennant champions.

Former 15-and-under league MVP Kevin Cequena was the highpoint man for Toyota with 30 points. Center Jorge De Guzman and forward Lawrence Pantola also added 19 and 11 points.

First Game

ARC 81 – Garcia 20, Cortez 17, Dayrit 11, Johannes 10, Alcantara 6, Bojocan 6, Flores 4, Arellano 3, Lipa 2, Manzon 2.

Dai-Ichi Hotel 63 – Macoto 22, Alegre 17, Yape 10, Lizo 5, Seman 3, Yumul 2, Andres 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-15, 42-27, 61-49, 81-63.

Second Game

Mobil 103 – Igitol 29, Mendoza 20, Guiab 16, Estolas 14, Toquip 8, Romolor 6, Galzote 6, Deocares 4.

Toyota 79 – Cequena 30, De Guzman 19, Pantola 11, Abuy 10, Domine 3, Aspuria 2, Cabrera 2, Capuyon 2.

Scoring by quarters: 32-10, 54-38, 79-53, 103-79.