McDonald’s dominates, PDI holds off charge

McDonald’s dominated from beginning to end and Pacific Development Inc. held off a late charge, as both teams left the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium victorious Tuesday night in the ongoing 2005 Mobil Oil Mariana Islands Co-ed Basketball League.

In the curtain raiser, McDonald’s jumped to an early 20-point lead after just one quarter of play and never gave the CNMI Women’s National Team a chance en route to an 84-37 victory.

Michael Achas went berserk in the first quarter and lit up the scoreboard for 14 points as McDonald’s led 28-8 after the first 10 minutes.

The cage belles put up a better effort defensively in the following quarter, limiting McDonald’s to just 11 points but failed to inch closer as they continued to struggle at the offensive end and trailed 14-39 at the break.

It was cruise control from then on for McDonald’s despite the Nationals showing positive signs in the second half.

Achas and forward Francis Rebuyon led McDonald’s with 31 and 12 points, while Connie Camacho hit four triples and finished with 16 points to lead the Nationals.

In the nightcap, PDI seemed to have control of their bout against the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., but lost grip of its comfortable lead and needed to put up a strong stand at the end to leave with a 99-77 win.

After trailing by as much as 18 points, CUC went on a scoring binge and gave PDI a run for its money in the fourth period.

CUC entered the payoff period already down by 12 points, 60-72, but consecutive layups by guard Jimmy Marquez, a couple of buckets in the paint, and a bomb from downtown by Oscar Sablan closed the gap to just six points midway through the quarter before PDI recovered behind the leadership of Ed Diaz.

Emmanuel Quimbao attacked the lane on PDI’s quick transition and Marvin Espeleta knocked down crucial jumpers to bring the lead back up to a comfortable margin.

Quimbao led PDI with a game-high 31 points, while Espeleta and cagebelle Saori Asano pumped in 20 and 17 points. Diaz finished with 13 points.

Sablan and George Poquiz led CUC with 21 and 13 points.

First Game
McDonald’s 84—M. Achas 31, Rebuyon 12, L. Achas 8, J. Achas 7, C. Achas 7, Gapuz 4, Yang 4, Gueteres 4, Balbuena 3.
CNMI Nationals 37—Camacho 16, Mobel 8, Stein 4, Cha. Ruluked 3, Che. Ruluked 2, Ogarto 2.
Scoring by quarters: 28-8, 39-14, 62-27, 84-37.
Referees: Abner Venus and Noel Delos Santos.

Second Game
PDI 99—Quimbao 31, Espeleta 20, Asano 17, Diaz 13, Guinto 6, Guerrero 5.
CUC 77—Sablan 21, Poquiz 13, Dela Cruz 10, Marquez 9, Lebria 7, Marchadez 5, Lebria 4, Mizutani 3, Elameto 2, Manibusan 2.
Scoring by quarters: 22-20, 47-32, 72-60, 99-77.
Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Ray Lizama.