Sixers I, Breeze notch wins

Sixers I and Breeze posted contrasting wins in the second straight day of action in the 2005 Saipan Rotary Club Summer Youth Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium Tuesday.

In the first game, Sixers I got 40 big points from former Island-wide Village Youth Basketball League MVP Kevin Cequena as the San Antonio squad battered the debuting Saints black and blue 77-50.

Sixers I and Cequena actually started slow and allowed the much shorter and inexperienced Saints to hang around in the first, which they took although only by 12 points, 25-13.

The second half was an altogether different story though, as the boys of coach Ryan Nisperos put their hard hats on in the final 20 minutes of the ballgame to thoroughly dominate the team from Chalan Kanoa.

Sixers I’s second-half surge was led by the sweet-shooting Cequena, who won the MVP of the then 15-and-under league as a 5’2” point guard, but has since grown to close to 6’0” without losing any of his shooting or guard skills.

After scoring only 10 points in the first half, Cequena exploded for 30 in the second, as the former Garapan Roller mocked all defenders assigned to guard him by scoring on a variety of drives, pull-up jumpers, put backs, and triples.

When the smoke cleared, Sixers I completed a 27-point rout of the Saints. Cequena got help from Manuel Ajoste and Jon Lim, who both wound up in double digits with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Luis Reyes paced Saints with 21 points. His brother L.J., however, couldn’t find his rhythm the entire game and wound up with just seven points.

The win gave Sixers I a 2-1 record with its only loss so far courtesy of powerhouse and intra-village rival San Antonio.

In the second game, Breeze turned back a gallant stand by Hoops and notched its second win with a 55-47 victory.

Derrick Rangamar and Syl Tellei combined for 26 points to lead Breeze, while Hoops fell to its second straight loss despite getting 15 markers from Won Joo Jung.

First Game

Sixers I 77 – K. Cequena 40, Ajoste 12, Lim 10, Encio 3, Je. Bahillo 2, Ja. Bahillo 2, Magcalas 2, Salas 2, P. Cequena 2, Nakashima 2.

Saints 50 – Lu. Reyes 21, L. J. Reyes 7, B. Iglecias 6, Jose 4, Manalo 4, Lizama 3, G, Iglecias 3, Palacios 2.

Scoring by halves: 25-13, 77-50.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Jess Pacheco.

Second Game

Breeze 55 – Rangamar 15, Tellei 11, Ogumoro 8, A. Kaipat 6, Borja 5, J. Kaipat 2, Villanueva 1.

Hoops 47 – Jung 15, Palacios 9, Dela Cruz 6, Aldan 4, Manglona 3, Webb 3, Norita 2, Fejeran 2, King 2, Estevez 1.

Scoring by halves: 35-24, 55-47.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Noel Delos Santos.