D’Fixers, MBI arrange finals tiff

Diamond Fixers and Micronesian Brokers, Inc. advanced to the finals but not before overcoming gallant stands by their semifinal opponents in the Saipan Ice & Water Co., Inc. 20th Anniversary Basketball League at the CMS Basketball Court Thursday.

In the first game, Diamond Fixers almost saw their unblemished season and championship hopes go up in smoke before rallying to a 103-98 win over Marianas Water.

The pennant champions started the game sluggishly, missing point-blank attempts, piling up turnovers, and giving up easy baskets to Marianas Water. As a result, they trailed 14-20 after the opening quarter.

They continued to grope for form in the second and even found themselves trailing by a whopping 16 points as Marianas Water’s Dennis Apelo took his defenders to town.

Fortunately for coach Boy Garcia’s crew, they finally found their shooting touch late in the period, led by leading scorer Francis Rebuyon.

The bulky forward scored a bushel in a half-ending run, as Diamond Fixers were able to come within 45-43 of Marianas Waters’ advantage at the break.

Diamond Fixers and Marianas Water were in a virtual deadlock in the third, as the lead swung back and forth before the latter managed to sneak in a few buckets and took a 77-74 spread going into the fourth and final quarter.

In the payoff period, both teams let it all hang out. Sonny Lerio rediscovered his deadly form in the canto while Rebuyon continued to shine on offense but in the end, Diamond Fixers just had more ammo and they went on to win by five points.

Rebuyon fired a game-high 44 points to pace Diamond Fixers, while William Opone added 20 markers.

Lerio and Apelo came up big in a losing cause with 33 and 31 points, respectively.

Unlike Diamond Fixers’ comeback win, MBI experienced the complete opposite in the second game.

The team went up early before averting a complete collapse and held on to a 95-86 victory over host Saipan Ice.

MBI appeared headed for a sure win, building a 21-point spread early in the third canto, before a searing rally by Saipan Ice closed the gap, 65-57, going into the fourth.

Saipan Ice threatened a couple of more times in the final 10 minutes of action, bringing the lead down to as low as five, but MBI seemed to always have an answer.

Elbyn Cecilia proved to be the biggest thorn on Saipan Ice’s side, as the 6’1” center unloaded 17 of his night-high 49 points in the payoff period to lead MBI to victory.

Jeffrey Garcia played the point well for MBI and still managed to score 14 points to help Cecilia. Ronnie Palero, who hounded Saipan Ice fastbreak machine Butch Sublemente the entire game, also chipped in 12.

Bull-strong Bernard Samson pumped in 37 points to lead Saipan Ice, while Sublemente and forward Ferdie De La Torre added 16 and 15 markers, respectively, in the loss.

First Game

Diamond Fixers 103 – Rebuyon 44, Opone 20, Hernandez 11, Peleno 10, Aldan 10, Garcia 6, Montano 2.

Marianas Water 98 – Lerio 33, Apelo 31, Demigilio 17, Cabanas 11, Villanueva 6.

Scoring by quarters: 14-20, 43-45, 77-74, 103-98.

Referees: Leo Itaas and Richard Pambid.

Second Game

Marianas Brokers, Inc. 95 – Cecilia 49, Garcia 14, Palero 12, Penalosa 7, Gayo 6, Alvarez 5, Diola 2.

Saipan Ice & Water 87 – Samson 37, Sublemente 16, De La Torre 15, Carreon 9, Lopez 8, Mariano 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-13, 43-33, 65-57, 95-87.

Referees: Leo Itaas and Richard Pambid.