Perfect season gone

Three games in four days proved to be a killer for league-leading Public School System.

PSS players found themselves on the losing end of a rout in the lone game of the 2004Government Basketball League Monday, when they were out-hustled and outplayed by defending champion Northern Marianas College at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Needing two more wins to complete a spotless record in the eliminations, PSS kissed their perfect aspirations goodbye, losing 98-83.

The team received a big blow when point guard and team heart and soul Donald Blondin sprained his left foot in first half and had to be helped off the court.

At that juncture of the ballgame, PSS was barely hanging on to the lead, which now became more precarious with the departure of their floor leader.

After leading NMC by just three points, 27-24, at the end of the opening quarter, PSS was indeed fortunate to be on top, 51-50, at halftime.

With swingmen Peter Mendiola and Gabriel White taking the brunt of the playmaking chores with relative success in the third, PSS was able to build on their lead in the early goings of third canto.

But NMC soon sprung a punishing full-court press on PSS’ converted ballhandlers and it paid big dividends.

Caught unaware, PSS coughed up the ball more than half a dozen times in the final four minutes of the third, allowing NMC to come roaring back.

The Proas would eventually whittle down the deficit to a mere four points, 66-70, going into the fourth and final quarter.

It would go from bad to worse for PSS early in the payoff period, as NMC outscored them 14-2 and took the driver’s seat for good, 80-72, with a little over eight minutes left in ballgame.

Tony Diaz first gave NMC a taste of the lead on a nifty reverse layup in traffic, which made it 73-72. After yet another turnover by PSS, Jester Garcia pulled up for three and the rout was on as Diaz and Jerry Diaz—no relation—drove uncontested for layups.

Without Blondin wreaking havoc on the opposing team’s offense and delivering the ball to PSS top scorers Taj Van Buren and Gary Lashley, the team struggled just to get off a shot and NMC continued to pad on their lead.

White and Lashley tried their best to rally PSS back with four minutes and change left in the contest.

But there was just no denying NMC as even reserves Tony Satur and Kevin Castro made shots against PSS’ all-of-a-sudden porous defense and the final two minutes were relegated to garbage time.

Tony Diaz led the way for NMC with 36 points. Garcia also was unstoppable inside and outside and finished with 30, while Jerry Diaz chipped in 15 points.

White had a good game in a bad loss with 20 markers. Lashley and Van Buren wound up with 19 points apiece, several points below the dynamic duo’s averages.

Before the loss, PSS defeated Saipan Mayor’s Office and Commonwealth Health Center Friday and Saturday.

What made NMC’s victory over the erstwhile undefeated PSS even more amazing was the defending champions were themselves coming off an 81-86 upset loss to Office of the Public Auditor last Jan. 12.

The government league takes a break tonight but returns with its regular double-header on Friday. The opener at 6:30pm pits Procurement & Supply against OPA, while the 8pm second game has Department of Labor taking on Tinian.

NMC 98 – T. Diaz 36, Garcia 30, J. Diaz 15, MacDuff 6, Castro 6, Satur 5.

PSS 83 – G. White 20, Lashley 19, Van Buren 19, P. Mendiola 10, F. Mendiola 6, S. White 3, Blondin 2, Gross 2, Bleckner 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-27, 50-51, 66-70, 98-83.

Referees: Ricky Itaas and Dado Vistal.