Marianas Water, MBI try to keep pace with D’Fixers

Marianas Water and MBI managed to stay in firing distance of league-leader Diamond Fixers with hard-earned wins in the Saipan Ice & Water Co. Inc. 20th Anniversary Basketball League Thursday night at the CMS Court in Gualo Rai.

Marianas Water survived a tough stance by league doormat Boholanos with a 90-86 victory in the opener, while MBI eked out an 80-73 win over MDX in the second game.

With Sonny Lerio his usual explosive self, the 3-1 Marianas Water squad raced to a 74-56 spread after the end of three quarters of play.

Boholanos, however, quickly made up the deficit with an 18-point, fourth quarter explosion from Rotary league standout Rowell Aranda.

But Aranda’s heroics came too little, too late and Marianas Water was able to escape with the four-point win.

Lerio top scored for Marianas Water with 35 points, while role players Mike Cabanas and Roter Demegilio added 17 and 11 markers, respectively. Johnny Badilles was the only other Boholanos player to finish in double figures with 13.

MBI, meanwhile, drew 25 points from Elbyn Cecilia and 23 points from Jeff Garcia as they also raised their record to 3-1.

The distributors bucked a slow start, which saw MDX on top after the first quarter, before leaving the radio enthusiasts eating their dust in the final three quarters.

Badong Camacho led MDX’s losing cause with 25 points, while Leo Canedo added 12.

The Saipan Ice league resumes tomorrow night with MBI taking on Marianas Water in the 6:30pm first game. The 8pm second game then pits MDX against Subway.

Thursday’s playdate features MBI versus Diamond Fixers in the first game and Saipan Ice taking on Diplomats in the second.

Last Monday, Diamond Fixers remained perfect recording its fourth win with an 81-63 triumph against Diplomats 81-63 in the first game.

In the continuation of last week’s rain-interrupted match between MBI and Saipan Ice, the latter edged the former 75-74. The hosts then absorbed their third loss and second on the night, falling to Subway 81-66, in the third match.

Thursday
First Game

Marianas Water 90 – Lerio 35, Cabanas 17, Demegelio 11, Apelo 9, Ojeda 8, Sanchez 6, Garciano 2, Divina 2.

Boholanos 86 – Aranda 29, Badilles 13, Rosauro 10, Castro 10, Lagumbay 8, Jacob 6, Dumagan 4, Alfonso 4, Lunzaga 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-18, 44-36, 74-56, 90-86.

Second Game

MBI 80 – Cecilia 25, Garcia 23, Pe 17, Alvarez 8, Penalosa 5, Camacho 2.

MDX 73 – Camacho 25, Canedo 12, Pablo 10, Llagas 8, Malasarte 7, Salas 5, Diyco 4, Untalan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-21, 46-36, 61-55, 80-73.

Monday
First Game

Diamond Fixers 81 – Rebuyon 30, Opone 20, Hernandez 9, Aldan 8, Peleno 6, Montano 4, Garcia 2, Lauron 2.

Diplomats 63 – De Belen 25, Agbanlog 10, Guzman 8, Tan 7, Borja 6, Fulgencio 4, Pineda 2, Canlas 1.

Scoring by quarters: 19-24, 40-35, 57-49, 81-63.

Second Game

MBI 75 – Penalosa 23, Alvarez 12, Garcia 12, Pe 12, Gayo 8, Palero 6, Cordero 2.

Saipan Ice 74 – Sublemente 25, Samson 11, Mariano 10, Dela Torre 9, Calma 5, Carreon 5, Fernandez 4, Sabilla 3, Balarao 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-16, 39-25, 56-55, 75-74.

Third Game

Subway 81 – Palacios 26, Sese 14, Salvani 12, Bahillo 10.

Saipan Ice 66 – Carreon 28, Dela Torre 11, Sublemente 8, Sabilla 7, Fernandez 6, Calma 4, Balarao 2.

Scoring by quarters: 28-19, 44-36, 54-56, 81-66.