DPS II draws first blood

Ned Norita came up with big plays in the closing minutes of Game 1 of the 2004 Government Basketball League best-of-three championship yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The 6’2” center scored four points in the game’s final two minutes and helped his team repulse a searing late-game charge by a no-quit Department of Labor squad, 68-65, that gave them a 1-0 lead in the finals.

After do-it-all forward Ed Diaz and point guard Jerry Ayuyu shoved DPS II to a 3-point cushion following a 61-all tie, Norita forced Labor player to haphazard attempts on the other end.

He then came up clutch at the two-minute mark of the game, catching a pass from Carl Hocog and delivering it through the basket to give DPS II a 66-61 spread.

Labor continued to play hard and playmaker Mitch Aaron’s bucket in the next play put them within three points of DPS II’s lead.

Both teams exchanged turnovers before Aaron connected on a long two, which appeared to be from behind the 3-point line, as Labor inched closer, 65-66, time down to 44 seconds.

In the next play, DPS II got another break when their shot clock was reset from five to 24 seconds, following a kick ball violation on Labor.

Diaz, however, didn’t take advantage of the time and went hard to the basket on a running shot. Luckily for DPS II, Norita was again there to pick up the garbage, and his putback with 18 ticks left on the clock restored a 3-point, 68-65, edge to DPS II.

Labor had plenty of time to jack up a triple and send the game into overtime, but DPS II played honest defense, which led to an out-of-bounds play and a held ball.

Steve Rasa had one last chance to force extension but his attempt from the right corner—against two DPS II defenders—clanked harmlessly off the iron.

Diaz led all scorers with 26 points, while Norita added 14. Aaron was excellent in defeat tossing in 16 points. Rasa, meanwhile, bucked a slow start and wound up with 15. Mid-season acquisition George Poquiz also added 14.

It was a great save for Norita and DPS II, as the law enforcers were in front the entire ballgame, and held a couple of 12-point leads in the third and fourth quarters, before Labor made a comeback in the payoff period.

Poquiz ignited Labor’s uprising. The shifty guard scored six straight points to pull them within 57-54 of DPS II’s advantage with less than six minutes to go in the contest.

Labor continued to breath down the necks of DPS II and a triple by Rasa, at the 3:46 mark of the game, tied the count at 61 apiece.

They, however, came up just a tad short the rest of the way, with their players still visibly exhausted from their semifinal game against DPS I the night before.

In that game, Labor shut down league-leading scorer Elias Saralu and benefited from a dagger of a triple late in the game by Tony Sablan to advance to the finals with a 75-64 win.

Game 2 of the finals tiff between DPS II and DOL resumes on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 6:30pm.

Friday’s Game

DOL 75 – Rasa 22, Wesley 12, Ayuyu 11, Aaron 10, Sablan 9, Poquiz 8, Roberto 2, Tudela 1.

DPS I 64 – Saralu 16, Celes 16, Taitano 9, Quitgua 6, Manglona 2, Ito 1.

Scoring by quarters: 23-14, 43-33, 55-53, 75-64.

Referees: Ricky Itaas and Dado Vistal.

Saturday’s Game

DPS II 68 – E. Diaz 26, Norita 14, Ayuyu 7, Hocog 6, Quitugua 4, Regis 3, Cruz 3, Ogumoro 2.

DOL 68 – Aaron 16, Rasa 15, Poquiz 14, Roberto 6, Wesley 6, Tudela 4, Ayuyu 2.

Scoring by quarters: 15-11, 36-28, 54-42, 68-65.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Jess Pacheco.