Maplas ties Guardians atop Pacific Saipan hoops

Maplas tied Guardians atop the team standings of the Pacific Saipan Inc. Promo Invitational Basketball League after posting win No. 2 against Alliana’s last Friday at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Dominating from start to finish, Maplas took a 17-12 lead after the first quarter thanks to the 4 points each from Gerald Aniciete and Mars Tagle.

Alliana’s fought back in the second quarter with Jose Broncano and Obet Valiente matching Aniciete and Tagle’s output in the first quarter. Despite their best efforts though, Maplas entered halftime with a 31-25 lead.

Maplas flexed their muscles at the start of the second half and outscored a misfiring Alliana’s side, 15-9, as Ronald Rueda came alive with 8 points in that period alone.

But Alliana’s wasn’t giving up that easily and continued to hang on to Maplas’ coattails in the fourth and final quarter, but timely baskets from Rueda and Rommel Usi managed to fend them off and the latter got away with the 7-point win, 67-60.

Rueda and Usi led Maplas with 15 and 12 points, respectively, while Valiente’s 20 paced the now 1-1 Alliana’s losing cause with a game-high 20 markers.

In the second game, Jimbo Tabora was literally a one-man wrecking ball in leading Team Legends to a 68-52 whipping of Bourbon Bar & Grill.

In helping his team level its win-loss count at 1-1 Tabora scored 24 points, while his counterpart in the now 0-2 Bourbon Bar & Café, Paul John Manansala, almost matched him point for point with 23 points of his own.

First Game

Maplas 67 – Rueda 15, Usi 12, Austria 7, Cortez 7, Ma. Tagle 6, Mo. Tagle 4, Odicta 4, Claveria 4, Palima 4.

Alliana’s 60 – Valiente 20, Mendoza 10, Broncano 10, Matuguina 7, Merales 6, Armas 5.

Scoring by quarters: 17-12, 31-25, 46-34, 67-60.

Second Game

Team Legends 68 – Ji. Tabora 24, Tibayan 9, Ju. Tabora 9, Ege 8, Rosario 6, P. Tabora 6, Montano 3, J. Tabora 2, Zapata 1.

Bourbon Bar & Café 52 – Manansala 23, Binuya 10, Boringgot 6, Divinagrasya 5, Jose 2, Lopez 2, Gragasin 2, Guinhawa 1, Montoya 1.

Scoring by quarters: 22-12, 35-18, 50-35, 68-52.