D’Fixers still perfect, Boholanos winless

Diamond Fixers continued to sparkle and shimmer for their sixth win in six starts, while Boholanos are still in search of their first win as action in the Saipan Ice and Water Co. Inc. 20th Anniversary Basketball Tournament picked up Monday and Thursday at the Construction Material and Supply Basketball Court.

Seeing action in the first game of Monday’s doubleheader, Diamond Fixers wiggled out from a tight first half to blow out Marianas Ice, 86-63.

Kevin Aldan had an inspired performance and led Diamond Fixers with 23 points, while leading scorer Francis Rebuyon and center Pasky Peleno has 18 and 10 points, respectively.

Sonny Lerio again led Marianas Water in a loss with 22 markers.

In the second game, Subway leaned on a 24-point explosion from BANMI 25-and-under star Tyrone Palacios to subdue a shorthanded Marianas Brokerage Inc. 77-68.

MBI actually led from the second quarter onwards and held a 56-49 edge after three quarters of play only to falter in the face of a flurry of baskets from Palacios, who scored 13 points in the payoff period. MBI was also affected by the ejection of sweet-shooting swingman Jeff Garcia.

Bong Sese backed up Palacios with 19 points, while Elbyn Cecila led all scorers with 28 for MBI.

Diplomats, meanwhile, had no trouble registering its third win in five tries, bludgeoning cellar-dweller Boholanos side, 80-66, in Thursday’s first game.

Jojit Agbanlog kept Boholanos from barging into the win column, firing 32 points. Johnny Badilles paced Boholanos with 17 markers.

In the second game, Jerry “Mutombo” Lopez turned back the hands of time, unleashing a vintage performance with 16 points to propel host Saipan Ice to an 81-67 plastering of MDX Radio Club.

The 6’3” behemoth got plenty of support getting 14 points from triathlete Butch Sublemente and 13 from Marianas Variety’s Ferdie Dela Torre.

One-man wreaking crew Badong Camacho was the only MDX player to finish in double figures with 27 points.

The Saipan cage league resumes on Monday with MDX facing Diamond Fixers in the 6:30pm first game and Diplomats squaring off against MBI in the second game set for 8pm.
Monday
First Game

Diamond Fixers 86 – Aldan 23, Rebuyon 18, Peleno 10, Opone 7, Arenas 6, Mallari 6, Hernandez 4, Gabriel 4, Lauron 4, Garcia 2, Villasan 2, Montano 2.

Marianas Ice 63 – Lerio 22, Cabanas 15, Apelo 13, Demegilio 11, Villanueva 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-19, 35-30, 61-45, 86-63.

Second Game

Subway 77 – Palacios 24, Sese 19, Salvani 13, Olivarez 7, Nucum 6, Bahillo 4, Deang 2, Felix 2.

MBI 68 – Cecilia 28, Alvarez 13, Garcia 12, Penalosa 6, Gayo 6, Cordero 3.

Scoring by quarters: 9-8, 25-33, 49-56, 77-68.

Thursday
First Game

Diplomats 89 – Agbanlog 32, De Belen 20, Aglubat 8, Borja 8, Pineda 6, Feliciano 6, C. Hilario 3, Limpin 3, R. Hilario 2, Guzman 1.

Boholanos 66 – Badilles 17, Castro 15, Rosauro 12, Toquib 9, Alfonso 8, Dumagan 3, Lunzaga 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-20, 41-36, 75-55, 89-66.

Second Game

Saipan Ice 81 – Lopez 16, Sublemente 14, Dela Torre 13, Carreon 12, Samson 11, Balarao 8, Mariano 5, Fernandez 2.

MDX 67 – Camacho 27, Pablo 9, Malasarte 8, Diyco 7, Llagas 6, Untalan 4, Licop 4, Pardinan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-13, 41-24, 59-52, 81-67.