CPA, Hyatt win in Mobil thrillers

Intense action was featured Tuesday night in the ongoing Mobil Oil Mariana Islands Co-ed Invitational Basketball League as both match-ups went down-the-wire at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the curtain raiser, Hyatt Regency Saipan and host Mobil were neck and neck for most parts of their game before Hyatt closed the contest with a stronger charge to take an 85-81 victory.

The game was close from the get-go, with Mobil holding a slim 24-21 advantage after the first 10 minutes of play. Mobil then kicked it into higher gear and began widening their lead in the second quarter.

Scoring machine Jhun Estolas went off for 13 points, while forward Errol Peredo nailed a triple and two regular field goals to lift Mobil to a 53-39 cushion at the break.

The hoteliers, however, were far from done and exploded in the third period, limiting the normally high-scoring Mobil team just 12 points, while shooting up 24 points themselves to cut the deficit to just two points, 63-65, with one period remaining.

Hyatt continued to stay within striking distance and finally tasted the lead on a 3-point jumper by Yosh Gabaldon with nine minutes left, 68-67.

The two teams traded baskets and the lead, but Hyatt managed to pull the right strings in the dying minutes to leave with the four-point victory.

Leo Itaas led Hyatt with 29 points, while Mike Umali and Gabaldon added 12 points apiece.

Estolas topscored for Mobil with 24 points, while Peredo and Ray Camacho had 22 and 10 points, respectively.

In the nightcap, Jerome Reyes hit a running jumper with just 43.8 second left and slotman Jawn Joyner followed with a tough shot in the paint to give the Commonwealth Ports Authority a nail-biting 103-100 victory over Pacific Development Inc.

The game featured four lead changes in the final two minutes before Reyes and Joyner plunged the dagger into PDI’s last stand.

Dave Sablan and Joyner led CPA with 30 and 22 points, while Reyes and Mike Guerrero added 17 and 15 points.

Cagebelle Saori Asano led PDI with 17 points. Ben Guerrero, Emmanuel Quimbao, Joel Guinto each pumped in 16 points.

First Game
Hyatt 85—Itaas 29, Umali 12, Gabaldon 12, Pola 12, Villanueva 10, Codog 5, Roman 3, Esquerra 2.
Mobil 81—Estolas 24, Peredo 22, Camacho 10, Pelenio 6, Menguo 5, Guiab 4, Deocares 2.
Scoring by quarters: 21-24, 39-53, 63-65, 85-81.

Second Game
CPA 103—D. Sablan 30, Joyner 22, Reyes 17, Guerrero 15, C. Sablan 10, Geralds 2, Mizutani 2, Mi. Muna 2, Ma. Muna 2.
PDI 100—Asano 17, Guinto 16, Guerrero 16, Quimbao 16, Acosta 15, Ballesteros 10, Espeleta 9.
Scoring by quarters: 25-17, 49-36, 70-69, 103-100.