Titans extend win streak, Toyota wins

The MARPAC-Nissan Titans kept their perfect record intact and extended their win streak to five games, while two-time defending champion Bud Light- Toyota Tundra gave cager John Santos a perfect welcome back gift by bagging their third win of the season as action in the 2005 Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League continued Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Santos played his first game of the season after missing the first three games. The versatile player is currently on island for two weeks before returning to Iraq, where he serves in the U.S. Armed Forces. He is a member of Echo Company, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry.

Despite not seeing cage action in a while, Santos looked sharp in the early goings and helped Toyota defeat Budweiser-Wells Fargo, 89-59, in the curtain opener.

Santos knocked down four free throws and two field goals for eight points, while Taj Van Buren pumped in seven, leading Toyota to a 19-11 advantage after the first period.

The second quarter was closely fought, with Toyota scoring just three points more than Wells Fargo to pad their lead to double digits, 37-26, at the break.

The lead ballooned as the second half got underway as Toyota began to pull away. Van Buren, Abong Camacho, and Edsel Mendoza spearheaded a 27-17 run that resulted in Bud Light heading into the payoff period up by 21 points, 64-43.

It was cruise control from there as Romeo Iginoef and Jake Celes combined for 12 points to help the two-time champions close out strong.

Van Buren led Toyota with a game-high 22 points, while Camacho added 14 points. Santos and Mendoza both finished with 12 points.

Gus Palacios and Joe Villacrusis led Wells Fargo with 19 and 11 points, respectively.

Later in the evening, the Titans improved to a league-best 5-0 and handed the Bud Ice-SaipanCell Hoopaholics their first loss of the season, 79-69.

Hoopaholics got off to a slow start and had trouble putting the ball through the hoop and the Titans quickly took advantage, dominating the first 10 minutes for a 24-8 cushion. Aleric Aguon and Steve Rasa accounted for much of the offensive punch with nine and seven points.

Team Hoops managed to recover in the second period and put up a better offensive showing to inch closer. Veteran playmaker Rick Alegre changed mode and shouldered the team’s offensive push, swooshing nine points as the Hoopsters cut the deficit to 12 points, 28-40, before halftime.

Hoopaholics continued to claw back into contention by again outscoring the Titans in the third stanza. The team limited the Titans to 17 points while putting up another 23 points on the board and trailed by just six points, 51-57, with one period left.

James Villacrusis tried to bring the Hoopaholics closer with eight points in the closing quarter, however, the team’s efforts came up short as Aguon went back to work for another 12 points to lift Nissan to another win.

Aguon led Nissan with 21 points, while Jawn Joyner and Rasa finished with 20 and 17 points. Mark Wallace also worked his way for 15 points.

Amado and Villacrusis paced Hoopaholics with 14 points apiece, while Alegre and Jeremy Sablan chipped in 13 and 12 points.

First Game

Toyota Tundra 89—Van Buren 22, Camacho 14, Santos 12, Mendoza 12, Iginoef 9, Celes 8, Renguul 7, Saralu 5.

Wells Fargo 59—G. Palacios 19, Villacrusis 11, Ja. Palacios 9, G. Palacios 7, Jo. Palacios 6, Sablan 3, Andrew 2, McKnight 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-11, 37-26, 64-43, 89-59.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Jess Pacheco.

Second Game

Nissan Titans 79—Aguon 21, Joyner 20, Rasa 17, Wallace 15, Palacios 2.

Hoopaholics 69—Amado 14, Villacrusis 14, Alegre 13, Sablan 12, Manibusan 8, Sablan 5, Mendiola 2, Diaz 1.

Scoring by quarters: 24-8, 40-28, 57-51, 79-69.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Noel Delos Santos.