Bourbon Bar & Café keep Eagles flightless

Bourbon Bar & Café improved to a win-loss standing of 2-2 after finishing off Eagles late, 83-72, in the continuation of the Pacific Saipan Inc. Promo Invitational Basketball League last Tuesday at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Both teams were even stevens after a quarter of play, 19-19, before Paul Joan Manansala waxed hot in the second quarter by pouring in 11 of his game-high 25 points to lift the restauranteurs to a 30-21 halftime spread.

Eagles got to spread their wings a bit at the start of the third quarter with Joel Buniag and Jonathan Ibajan combining for 11 points to help them cut Bourbon Bar & Café’s lead to just 6 points, 65-59, heading into the fourth and final quarter.

Bourbon Bar & Café, however, would save its best for last, outgunning Eagles, 18-13, in the match’s final 10 minutes to win by 9 points.

Manansala’s 25 big points was ably supported by the 17 markers of July Narciso, while Roi Esmores chipped in 13 more. The Eagles’ losing cause was paced by the 13 points of Ibajan and the 10 of Buniag. The team continues to languish at the cellar at 0-5.

In the second game, Maplas outlasted Unity Trade in an offensively anemic encounter, 53-49.

Moise Tagle Jr. and Dennis Cortez scored 14 points and 13 points, respectively, to spearhead Maplas to its third win in four tries. Unity Trade, which dropped to 1-3, meanwhile saw Dan Mateo as the only double-digit scorer with 15 markers.

The Pacific Saipan Inc. Promo Invitational Basketball League is made up of eight teams with Alliana’s (4-1), Team Legends (4-1) Guardians (3-1), and Johnny’s Bar & Grill (0-3 Bourbon Bar & Café ) also seeing action.

First Game

Bourbon Bar & Café 83 – Manansala 25, Narciso 17, Esmores 13, Gragasin 8, Mallari 6, Binuya 6, Lopez 4, Jose 2.

Eagles 72 – Darag 13, Ibajan 13, Buniag 10, Sandig 8, Omampo 6, Nunez 4, Ytac 3, Formales 3, Poquiz 3.

Scoring by quarters: 19-19, 30-21, 65-59, 83-72.

Second Game

Maplas 53 – Tagle 14, Cortez 13, Rueda 9, Odicta 8, Tagle 5, De Ramos 2, Usi 2.

Unity Trade 49 – Mateo 15, Quizon 8, Garcia 6, Rodriguez 6, Hernandez 5, Estores 5, Rejano 4.

Scoring by quarters: 21-10, 34-28, 43-40, 53-49.