NMC escapes P&S, Labor wins

Defending champion Northern Marianas College dodged a bullet in the resumption of the 2004 Government Basketball League Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The defending champions needed back-to-back triples from Dave Palacios in the final two minutes to rally past an inspired performance from Jack Palacios and Procurement & Supply, 110-104, in the second game of the year’s first doubleheader.

It was a high-scoring ballgame right from the start. Tony Diaz and Jester Garcia combined for 21 points, as NMC took the first quarter 32-27.

Diaz continued to pour it on in the second, unloading 11 more, but instead of Garcia as his sidekick, playmaker Dave Palacios stepped in and punctured the net with 10 points to help NMC enter the halftime break with a comfortable 63-52 spread.

Jack Palacios and P&S would play with more fire at the start of the second half. With the bull-strong forward powering his way for 12 straight points, the team was able to inch within a point of NMC, 63-65.

And they didn’t stop there. Jack Palacios would score six more points and his teammates would toss in 14 before the quarter was through, as P&S took the driver’s seat and seemed to be in command of the contest, leading 86-78 heading into the fourth and final quarter.

P&S continued to play heads-up basketball in the early parts of the payoff period, while NMC, in contrast, appeared lost and disinterested. But the tide began to turn with less than four minutes left in the ballgame.

Down 98-90, NMC went on a 9-0 run capped by Dave Palacios’ second connection from rainbow country. After a free throw by Jack Palacios tied it up at 99-all, Dave Palacios hit another one from 3-point country with less than two minutes to go that gave them a 102-99 lead, one they would maintain the rest of the way.

Diaz led a balanced attack by NMC with 34 points. Garcia added 29, while Dave Palacios and Jerry Diaz contributed 22 and 13, respectively.

Jack Palacios was close to unstoppable in the loss scoring 43 markers. Oscar Masga came away with 20, while Palacios’ younger brother, John, collected 16.

In the first game, Department of Labor bucked a slow start to defeat Commonwealth Ports Authority, 84-74.

The frontline of Steve Rasa and Tim Wesley scored 22 and 21 points, respectively, in the win. They also got a lot of help from their supporting cast, as playing-coach Tony Sablan added 12 and forward Ray Roberto finished with 11.

Jawn Joyner paced CPA in the loss with 29, while Sunriser teammate Jerome Reyes chipped in 11.

The government league resumes play tonight with Department of Community and Cultural Affairs taking on DOL in the 6:30pm opener. The 8pm second game then pits CPA against Department of Public Safety I.

First Game

DOL 84 – Rasa 22, Wesley 21, Sablan 12, Roberto 11, Aaron 10, Tudela 5, Ayuyu 3, Igitol 1.

CPA 74 – Joyner 29, Reyes 11, E. Pangelinan 7, Muna 6, Tagabuel 6, C. Sablan 5, R. Sablan 5, J. Pangelinan 3, Guerrero 2.

Scoring by quarters: 11-24, 33-40, 61-55, 84-74.

Referees: Ricky Itaas and Abner Venus.

Second Game

NMC 110 – T. Diaz 34, Garcia 29, Palacios 22, J. Diaz 13, John 6, Castro 4, MacDuff 2.

P&S 104 – Ja. Palacios 43, Masga 20, Jo. Palacios 16, Iglecias 13, Diaz 10, Takai 2.

Scoring by quarters: 32-27, 63-52, 78-86, 110-104.

Referees: Mike White and Jess Pabula.