DCCA sweats out win

Reserve Mario Sablan scattered six points in the final quarter to help an overconfident Department of Community and Cultural Affairs team pull off a 79-73 victory over winless Saipan Mayor’s Office in the 2004 Government Basketball League Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

DCCA took the team from the Mayor’s Office lightly the entire game and almost paid the price.

Sans leading scorer Tony Luzama, Mayor’s Office found a savior of sorts in the person of whipping-quick guard Jerome Demapan.

Mister Quick Release baffled all defenders in the first canto, rifling eight points, as the Mayor’s Office took the initiative and led, 19-15, going into the second quarter.

Demapan didn’t slow down in the second quarter either. Sporting blond highlights, Demapan managed to outshine his own hairdo and scored or assisted on key plays to help Mayor’s Office to a 38-36 spread at halftime.

DCCA greeted the third quarter more focused. Embarrassed by the show Demapan put on them in the first half, the team double-teamed him anytime he touched the ball.

It appeared to work, as DCCA finally took the driver’s seat on consecutive fastbreak layups by Romeo Iginoef, Joey Dela Cruz, and Elias Rangamar.

With Demapan collared, DCCA went up 62-56 heading into the fourth and final quarter.

DCCA caught a break at the start of the payoff period when the Mayor’s Office elected to rest Demapan.

The move proved disastrous, as DCCA wiggled out of the tight contest and erected as much as double-digit spread.

Mayor’s Office, however, rallied in the final five minutes, getting offense from Byron Kaipat and Marty Taisacan to cut the deficit down to six points.

Luckily for DCCA, the little-used Sablan, who’s better known for his exploits in the baseball diamond than in the basketball court, came to the rescue and preserved the win.

Iginoef and Rangamar topscored for DCCA with 22 and 20 points, respectively, while Demapan fired 21 and Taisacan 17 in the loss.

Earlier, former Sunrisers Jawn Joyner and Jerome Reyes scored 26 points apiece to lead Commonwealth Ports Authority to a 92-86 win over defending champion Northern Marianas College in the first game.

It was a night and day difference for CPA in the first and second halves. NMC were in control of the ballgame in the first and second quarters before Joyner, Reyes, and Edgar Pangelinan turned up the heat in the second half to lead CPA to the win.

Pangelinan added 22 points in the victory, while spitfire Jester Garcia fired 29 points for Proa in the loss.

The government league resumes tonight with DCCA taking on Department of Public Safety II in the 6:30pm game. The second game at 8pm then features DPS I against Commonwealth Health Center.

First Game

CPA 92 – Joyner 26, Reyes 26, Pangelinan 22, Cabrera 5, Guerrero 4, Gerads 2, Muna 2, C. Sablan 2, Borja 1.

NMC 86 – Garcia 29, Palacios 18, John 10, Castro 10, Satur 8, Duenas 3, R. Diaz 2, MacDuff 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-33, 45-50, 73-60, 92-86.

Referees: Abner Venus and Nick Castro,

Second Game

DCCA 79 – Iginoef 22, Rangamar 20, Dela Cruz 8, Sablan 8, Pua 7, Pelisamen 5, Rogolofoi 4, Tagabuel 3, Omar 2.

Mayor’s Office 73 – Demapan 21, Taisacan 17, Benavente 13, Kaipat 8, Cruz 7, Palacios 4, Mizutani 3.

Scoring by quarters: 15-19, 36-38, 62-56, 79-73.

Referees: Mike White and Dado Vistal.