Microl, Mobil cruise to victory

Host Mobil and Microl-Toyota gave shooting clinics en route to posting easy victories Thursday night in the ongoing Mobil Oil Co-Ed Invitational Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the curtain raiser, Kevin Cequena sizzled from behind the 3-point arc, nailing five triples in the third quarter and finishing with 21 points to lead Microl-Toyota to a 97-60 win over Pacific Development Inc.

The match was tightly contested in the opening quarters, with PDI keeping pace with the automakers, trailing by just two after 10 minutes of play, 18-20, and by four after the first half, 31-35.

Cequena and company, however, would kick into high gear at the start of the second half and went on a scoring spree that resulted in them adding a whopping 32 points to their corner, while limiting the opposition to 15 points for a comfortable 21-point cushion, 67-46.

Cequena was in a zone of his own during, connecting for 18 points, while John Capuyon punched in eight.

It was cruise control from there as Microl received little resistance in the final quarter to leave with the 37-point victory margin.

Ronnel Mostales and Rodney Catalla pumped in 14 and 12 points for Microl, while Marlon Cabrera chipped in 11 points.

Ben Guerrero led PDI with 20 points, while Ed Diaz and Marvin Espeleta added 14 and 11 points, respectively.

In the nightcap, Mobil had all its cagers finish in double figures as they defeated the CNMI Women’s National Team, 126-54.

Mobil strolled throughout the match and reached the century mark with time still remaining in the third period.

Despite being down by a huge load, the CNMI Nationals had their moments, showing positive signs and at once went on an 8-0 run in the third.

But the Nationals were just overmatched by Mobil, which closed the game with ease.

Junar Guiab and Tirso Tuquib had 21 and 18 points for Mobil, while Jhun Estolas and Errol Peredo were good for 16 and 12 points.

Kagman High School student Savannah Stein led the Nationals, working hard for a team-high 18 points, 14 of them coming in the first half.

FIRST GAME

Microl 97—Cequena 21, Mostales 14, Catalla 12, Cabrera 11, Factor 9, Lizama 9, Capuyon 8, Aspuria 4, Lawrence 4, Sablan 2, Mosley 2.

PDI 60—Guerrero 20, Diaz 14, Espeleta 11, Ruben 6, Asano 4, Teregeyo 2, Mangarero 2, Guinto 1.

Scoring by quarters: 20-18, 35-31, 67-46, 97-60.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Ray Lizama.

SECOND GAME

Mobil 126—Camacho 22, Guiab 21, Tuquib 18, Estolas 16, Peredo 12, Lorenzo 11, Deocares 10, Peleno 10.

CNMI Nationals 54—Stein 18, V. Mobel 8, Ngirchongor 6, Reiman 4, C. Mobel 4, Oiterong 4, Ruluked 2, Camacho 2, Cruz 2, Diaz 2.

Scoring by quarters: 34-14, 69-30, 102-42, 126-54.

Referees: Abner Venus and Jess Pacheco.