G-Rollers upset Ulloa in 25-and-under shootout

Saturday’s BANMI 25-and-under Basketball League bout featured a shootout between the Garapan Rollers and Ulloa, who combined to burn the nets of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium with 23 bombs from downtown.

Ulloa had the better share of the triples, nailing 17 from long-range, however, it was coach Joe Diaz and his G-Rollers who put up the better numbers in the dying minutes to pull off a 97-89 upset.

After getting off to a slow start and trailing 8-13 after the first period, Ulloa put on a shooting clinic courtesy of brothers John and Josh Sablan, who ignited an eye-popping 41-point charge that gave their squad a 49-41 cushion at the break. The Sablan brothers broke loose from beyond the three-point arc, each hitting four triples and both contributing 14 points apiece, with John scoring 11 straight points for Ulloa at one point.

The G-Rollers, however, were far from being impressed and put up a balanced attack with an array of drives, putbacks, perimeter jumpers, and fastbreak layups that enabled them to regain advantage. Hard-working forward Derrick Tudela and guard Jose Tumaquip spearheaded a 32-18 run with nine and six points to give their team a 73-67 lead with one period remaining.

Ulloa continued to rely heavily on the long-range jumpers and managed to cut the deficit to a point midway through the fourth quarter, however, the harassing defense of the Garapan cagers, key buckets by center Kelvin Fitial inside the paint, including a rare hit from downtown, and a triple and field goal by Tumaquip proved to be too much for Ulloa, who dropped to 3-2 in the team standings.

Tudela finished with 25 points to lead the G-Rollers, who now sit with a 2-3 win-loss record. Fitial and Tumaquip each had 19 points, while shooter Brian Flores contributed 14 points.

John and Josh Sablan poured in 28 and 27 points, with John hitting eight triples and Josh seven. Center Gus Palacios worked the paint for 20 points for Ulloa, currently third in the team standings.

No games will be played this week to give way to the week-long playoffs of the Island Wide Volleyball League and the Fury III: Fighting Islands Saipan, which will be held Saturday. Games resume on Monday, April 11. From there on, two games will be played every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

G-Rollers 97—Tudela 25, Fitial 19, Jos. Tumaquip 19, Flores 14, Iguel 9, Teregeyo 5, Chariton 4, Naraja 2.

Ulloa 89—Joh. Sablan 28, Jos. Sablan 27, G. Palacios 20, D. Palacios 6, Sampson 4, Camacho 2, Maratita 2.

Scoring by quarters: 13-8, 41-49, 73-67, 97-89.

Referees: Jess Pacheco and Ray Lizama.