G-Rollers I deep-sixes Sixers II

Garapan Rollers held down San Antonio Sixers II to a big, fat goose egg in the second quarter as they rolled to a 58-19 victory last night in the Island-wide Village Youth Basketball League at the Koblerville Basketball Court.

Egged on by their home crowd, the Sixers II of coach Ryan Nisperos took an early 6-2 lead in the first three minutes of the opening quarter against a G-Roller first five that obviously was taking their younger and less experienced opponents for granted.

After a little pep talk from coach Joe Diaz and some key substitutions, G-Rollers finally played to their potential and nailed Sixers II to six points, while exploding for six points themselves to take an 8-6 advantage going into the second stanza.

Garapan made up for their lackluster play in the early goings of the first quarter by pouring it on in the second. They played close to perfect ball—hustling down in defense, pressing from the backcourt, and releasing early for uncontested fastbreak layups.

In contrast, Sixers II’s game literally went south in one of the most southernmost basketball courts on the island, as they just couldn’t buy a basket.

They fell prey to G-Rollers’ trapping defense and committed turnovers aplenty that allowed their opponents to enter halftime with a comfortable 18-6 spread.

It would go from bad to worse for Sixers II after the eight-minute break, as G-Rollers continued to pour it on. Although, Sixers II this time were able to add five points to their corner, G-Rollers exploded for 18 points—their point total the entire first half—to take an insurmountable 36-11 advantage a quarter to go in the ballgame.

With the outcome essentially beyond doubt, both coaches used the remaining eight minutes to field in their shock troopers but even in the match-up of reserves, G-Rollers still reigned supreme.

Coach Diaz’s second unit outscored coach Nisperos’ 22-8 as G-Rollers strolled to the 39-point win.

Five-foot-ten center D.R. Jones led G-Rollers’ balanced attack with 10 points, all scored in the fourth quarter. Athletic swingmen Jericho Cruz and Champ Untalan also added eight points apiece in the win.

Ervin Villegas, Ron Catap, and Lawrence Echon paced Sixers II with four points each.

G-Rollers 58 – Jones 10, Cruz 8, Untalan 8, Castro 6, Tellei 6, Basila 4, Epison 4, D, Mateo 4, Teregeyo 4, N, Mateo 2, Palacios 2.

Sixers II 19 – Villegas 4, Catap 4, Echion 4, Villanueva 2, Ferrer 2, Manaluz 2, Sambile 1.
Scoring by quarters: 8-6, 18-6, 36-11, 58-19.

Referees: Joe Mettao and Jonathan Tenorio.