DOL puts cuffs on DPS II

Department of Labor won their third straight game, and kept pace with Public School System, with a 79-58 mugging of Department of Public Safety II in the 2004 Government Basketball League Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Seeing action in the nightcap, DOL thundered out of the gates and erected a 21-8 lead after the first quarter.

Power forward Steve Rasa got things going for DOL, muscling his way for nine points and the team’s choking defense did the rest.

Rasa then teamed up with point guard Mitch Aaron in the second quarter, and together the two fueled DOL’s offensive juggernaut. DPS II, meanwhile, continued to be mired in their offensive doldrums and were down 23-40 at the turn.

DPS II emerged from halftime a different team and engaged DOL in almost even terms. Finally getting production from Jerry Ayuyu, Frank Pangelinan, and Carl Hocog, the keepers of the peace cut DOL’s once imposing lead and were down by just 8 points going into the fourth and final quarter.

Getting their wake-up call in the third, DOL played much better in the payoff period. Key buckets from Rasa, Aaron, and center Tim Wesley with half of the quarter gone restored the team’s double-digit lead and DOL was able to coast the rest of the way.

Rasa again topscored for the agency from San Antonio with 26 points, while Wesley and Aaron chipped in 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Norita led DPS II’s losing cause with 14 markers. Hocog and Pangelinan also did their share tossing in 12 and 11.

In the curtain raiser, Elias Saralu connected on four attempts from 3-point territory en route to scoring 31 points to lead DPS I to a resounding 86-54 manhandling of Office of Public Auditor.

Playmaker Joe Ito again played much bigger than his size pumping in 26 points. Bull-strong Oscar Sablan barreled his way for 14 points to pace OPA, which also got 11 from forward Taula Peter.

The government league resumes tonight with Commonwealth Ports Authority going up against Northern Marianas College in the 6:30pm first game, while the 8pm second game features Department of Community and Cultural Affairs taking on Saipan Mayor’s Office.

First Game

DPS I 86 – Saralu 31, Ito 26, Celes7, Joab 6, Kaipat 6, Quitugua 5, Manglona 4, Pangelinan 2.

OPA 54 – Sablan 14, Peter 11, Camacho 8, Pangelinan 7, Torres 6, Camacho 6.

Scoring by quarters: 23-12, 42-30, 62-45, 86-54.

Referees: Ricky Itaas and Jess Pabula.

Second Game
DOL 79 – Rasa 26, Wesley 14, Aaron 12, Sablan 9, Igitol 8, Ayuyu 7, Lizama 3, Guerrero 2.

DPS II 58 – Norita 14, Hocog 12, Pangelinan 11, Ayuyu 9, Diaz 3, Regis 3, Maratita 2, Taitano 2, Camacho 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-8, 40-23, 56-48, 79-58.

Referees: Jess Pacheco and Noel Delos Santos.