Mobil outguns Toyota, CUC beats Nationals

Microl-Toyota lit up the scoreboard in the Mobil Oil Mariana Islands Co-ed Basketball League Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, however, host Mobil punched in better numbers and outgunned their opponents, 127-121, to emerge victorious.

Toyota started the game on the right foot, as cage belle Noelle Calvo score all of her team’s 35 points in the opening quarter to lead the automakers to an early four-point lead. Mobil didn’t have a lady player to match up against Calvo the entire game.

With Calvo on the bench, the short-handed Mobil squad seized the opportunity and forged ahead, turning their deficit into a five-point lead at the break, 70-65. Guard Jhun Estolas spearheaded their attack, accounting for 13 points as Mobil outscored Toyota, 39-30.

Calvo got back on the court at the start of the second half and picked up where she left off, knocking in another 13 points, however, her magic was not as effective like the opening quarter as Mobil continued to hold a firm grip on the lead.

Forward Errol Peredo, Estolas, and Dennis Lorenzo took care of business at the offensive end as Mobil opened a 99-92 spread going into the fourth and final quarter.

Former league MVP Jorge de Guzman tried to spearhead a Toyota comeback in the final 10 minutes, penetrating the Mobil defense for 10 points, but his efforts came to no avail as Mobil put up a balanced attack, good enough to stave off the late charge.

All five Mobil cagers finished in double figures, with Peredo and Estolas leading the way with 35 and 30 points. Lorenzo added 27, while Ray Camacho and Junar Guiab had 17 and 13.

Calvo finished with a game-high 46 points, while Leo Factor and De Guzman supported her with 21 and 18 points.

In the second game, the CNMI Women’s Nationals put up a good fight but fell short against a stronger Commonwealth Utilities Corp. team, 67-50.

With CUC leading scorer Oscar Sablan being the ultimate gentleman, the Nationals stayed within striking distance until the fourth period, when CUC began to pull away courtesy of a combined 16-point effort from forwards Manny Laniyo and Alan Lebria.

The Nationals had their moments, and at one point scored four consecutive baskets to cut the lead to 11 points.

Laniyo led CUC with 12 points, while Rey Lieto and Lebria contributed 11 and 10 points.

Connie Camacho knocked in four triples and finished with 16 points, while Ruluked sisters Chelsea and Chariss added 10 and nine points.

First game
Mobil 127—Peredo 35, Estolas 30, Lorenzo 27, Camacho 17, Guiab 13.
Microl 121—Calvo 46, Factor 21, De Guzman 18, Capuyon 6, Catalla 6, Cequena 5, Abuy 4, Lizama 3, Mostales 3.
Scoring by quarters: 31-35, 70-65, 99-92, 127-121.
Referees: Ray Lizama and Noel Delos Santos.

Second game
CUC 67—Laniyo 12, Lieto 11, A. Lebria 10, Lebria 10, Dela Cruz 8, Marquez 8, J. Norita 6, Sablan 2, B. Norita 2.
Nationals 50—Camacho 16, Che. Ruluked 10, Cha. Ruluked 9, Mobel 8, Stein 4, Oiterong 3.
Scoring by quarters: 17-6, 33-20, 43-33, 67-50.
Referees: Abner Venus and Noel Delos Santos.