Aqua Resort, PDI post contrasting wins

The titleholders of the previous two years took different roads to victory in the resumption of the 2005 Mobil Oil Co-ed Invitational Basketball League Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the first game, 2003 Mobil champion Pacific Development, Inc. gave the CNMI Women’s National Team a full workout in posting an 81-32 lopsided win.

Former national team Ed Diaz showed no mercy and propelled PDI to a hot start with six first quarter points.

Center Joe Guinto and Ben Guerrero also pumped in four apiece, as PDI took the opening quarter 16-4.

Coach Donald Blondin’s girls played much better in the second half against a more relaxed PDI five.

With veteran sharpshooter Connie Camacho finally finding her stroke, and the trio of Deena Ngirchongor, Henny Elayda, and Vanessa Mobel in support, the nationals added 11 points to their output, while limiting PDI to 14, and were down by just 15-30 at the half.

PDI’s lady player, Soar Asano, then began to assert herself in the third quarter against basically the same team that finished third in last year’s Micronesian Basketball Tournament on Guam.

With her teammates setting the toned in defense, the Japanese lass went on to unload all of her nine points in the canto, helping PDI take full control of the game with a 61-20 spread going into the fourth and final quarter.

Spitfire Emmanuel Quiambao then picked up where Asano left off, pumping in nine of his 11 total points in the payoff period, as PDI coasted to the easy win.

Diaz led all scorers with 16 points, while Guerrero and Quiambao chipped in 12 and 11 markers, respectively.

Camacho was good for 10 points in the loss, while center Vanessa Diaz tossed in six points.

Defending champion Aqua Resort Club, meanwhile, brought newcomer McDonald’s back to earth with a come-from-behind 62-58 triumph in the second game.

McDonald’s gave Aqua Resort a lot of fits in the first three quarters of play and even led 32-23 at halftime.

But last year’s MVP Bogs Dayrit went berserk in the fourth, scorching the net for 10 of his team-high 17 to lead Aqua Resort to victory.

First Game

PDI 81 – Diaz 16, Guerrero 12, Quiambao 11, Asano 9, Espeleta 7, Guinto 6, Acosta 5, Ballesteros 4, Salvaloza 4, Rubin 3, Bahillo 2, Teregeyo 2.

CNMI Women 32 – Camacho 10, Diaz 6, Ruluked 4, Ngirchongor 4, Oieterong 4, Mobel 2, Elayda 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-4, 30-15, 61-20, 81-32.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Jess Pacheco.

Second Game

Aqua Resort 62 – Dayrit 17, Johannes 13, Jones 12, Arellano 10, Flores 4, Bojocan 2, Torres 2, Manzon 2.

McDonald’s 58 – Upone 20, J, Achas 13, M. Achas 13. Rebuyon 8, Gapuz 2, L. Achas 2.

Scoring by quarters: 13-12, 23-32, 48-45, 62-48.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Rey Lizama.