Easy Riders, Checkpoint draw first blood in open semis

Easy Riders and Checkpoint battled their way past roadblocks to draw first blood in the semis of the open division in the Inaugural SMEC-SMLEG Invitational Basketball Tournament 2023 last Saturday at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

The Easy Riders had it hard against The Game-Eats Easy, but came through in the last quarter to win, 64-51.

The first half showed that it would be another close game and both teams did not disappoint as they brought the heat early on. The Game led at the end of the second quarter, 28-23, from Francisco Mizutani’s slick fast-break plays and with help from 3-point man Preston Basa.

The Easy Riders, however, showed The Game who’s boss and why they’re undefeated as they put it all out on the court in the second half. The Game still gained traction and managed to retain a small lead, but the Easy Riders made sure to come back.

The fourth quarter was all Easy Riders as The Game could not get any of their shots to stick. This gave Easy Riders the upper hand and began to pull away with back-to-back interceptions by speedy Ren Ren Gaviola and Cris Diwa that led to baskets and converted fast-break drives.

In the end, Easy Riders got the better of The Game and went away still unscathed in the league with a 13-point deficit win.

Craig Padayao led the Easy Riders with 12 points, while Frank Ferrer and Diwa made 11 markers each. The Game’s Ervin Villarin tried to take them all the way back with 15 points, as Mizutani and Basa came up with 10 each.

Checkpoint also managed to stop CK Saints, 68-57, in the second game of the night.

The Saints had a close first half lead, but Checkpoint bounced back with a barrage of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to ensure a big lead and hold on to it.

Checkpoint’s mainstay Coby Santos held down the Saints with 19 points, while Jack Aranda had 15. The Saints’ Eli Aughenbaugh and Leo Galarse scored 12 each.

Results of master’s division semis JSN vs. Legends will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune. Continuation of Blue Haus and A Plus Team’s semis game will be held tonight as it was rained out last Thursday night.

The Easy Riders and Checkpoint need to win one more game to make it to the finals after they first go up against each other tomorrow night. Eats Easy and CK Saints will duke it out first. The finals are set for Nov. 4, Saturday.

First Game

Easy Riders 64 — Padayao 12, Ferrer 11, Diwa 11, De Guzman 9, Gaviola 9, Camacho 8, Ashburn 4.

The Game-Eats Easy 51 — Villarin 15, Mizutani 10, Basa 10, Ferrari 4, Galang 4, Gutierrez 4, Ong 2, Deleon Guerrero 2.

Scoring by quarters: 12-11, 23-28, 47-32, 64-51.

Second Game

Checkpoint 68 — C. Santos 19, Aranda 15, Castro 9, Quan 7, Kim 6, Camacho 4, K. Santos 4, Sablan 4.

CK Saints 57 — Aughenbaugh 12, Galarse 12, Brennan 8, Ybanes 4, Mendiola 4, Manibusan 4, LJ Reyes 4, Luizi Reyes 4, Blas 3, Ogumoro 2.

Scoring by quarters: 10-9, 25-26, 46-37, 68-57.