Sonics shock G-I for Rotary crown

The Southern Sonics couldn’t have picked a better time to play the best game of their young careers.

Scoring champion Rowell Aranda lived up to expectations and worked his magic for a whopping 47 points and veteran Lester Babauta swooshed the nets for 30 points as the Sonics erased the memory of their only loss of the season by shocking pennant champion Garapan Rollers I in convincing fashion, 113-78, to win the 2005 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League championship Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The result for G-I, however, couldn’t have come in a worse time as it served as the team’s only loss of the season after winning 14 straight games.

Aranda and company controlled the game from the opening tip as their 1-3-1 defense worked like a charm and translated to a 10-3 run to start the game, with Babauta connecting on consecutive triples.

G-I cut the gap on a triple by Jericho Cruz, 6-10, but the Sonics weren’t rattled and retaliated with a 16-8 run capped by another layup by Aranda for a 26-14 lead with 10:35 remaining in the first half.

Vince Teregeyo nailed a 3-pointer almost two minutes later for G-I, but Aranda provided the answer as he broke away for two open court layups, a free throw, and a successful drive to put the Sonics ahead by a surprising 20 points, 37-17, with a little over seven minutes left.

The Sonics continued to dominate and were up 42-18 before the G-Rollers came storming back as the team took advantage of two Southern technical fouls and scored nine unanswered points to move within 12 points, 27-42. The Sonics then scored four points courtesy of two charity shots by Babauta and a layup by Aranda and closed the half on a high note with a 16-point spread, 51-35.

The Sonics continued their smooth ride to the title as they forced more turnovers and controlled the boards to bring their lead back up to 20 points, 55-35, on baskets by Aranda and Babauta to start the second half.

G-I leader and regular season most valuable player Pedro Iguel then penetrated for a layup, but the Sonics went on a 15-0 run in the next three and a half minutes to blow the game open, 70-37, with Aranda knocking down another eight points.

Refusing to throw in the towel, the G-Rollers played with the hearts of warriors as the team continued to push hard, but their effort was not able to overcome the huge lead as the Sonics showed no mercy and dominated every facet of the game to close with the impressive 31-point victory margin, with Babauta nailing another long-range jumper and Aranda swooshing another basket for the icing on the cake.

Aranda was hot all night long in leading the Saipan Uniforms-backed team, scoring 25 points in the first half and another 22 points in the final 20 minutes. The team also got solid support from center Jack Lizama, who grabbed countless rebounds while scoring 15 points.

Iguel and Ivan Devero led the G-Rollers with 19 points apiece as the team sponsored by Express Electronics/Rep. Ray Tebuteb closed a respectable run.

Earlier, Kevin Cequena and Manuel Ajoste lit up the scoreboard for 31 and 22 points, while Richard Magcalas, Jon Lim, and Jason Bahillo scored 10 or more points as the San Antonio Sixers I took third place with a 99-83 victory over Toyota Camry-Ol’Aces.

Steven Kim led Toyota with a game-high 35 points while Jeff Deleon Guerrero and Javon Tarkong finished with 18 and 11 points.

Championship Game
Sonics 113 – Aranda 47, Babauta 30, Lizama 15, Kintz 9, Eclevia 6, Apelo 4, Flores 2.
G-I 78 – Iguel 19, Devero 19, Aldan 9, Teregeyo 7, Cruz 6, Tumaquip 6, Ada 4, Hocking 4, Chariton 2, Naraja 2.
Scoring by halves: 51-35, 113-78.
Referees: Dado Vistal and Jess Pacheco.

Consolation Game
Sixers I 99 – K. Cequena 31, M. Ajoste 22, Magcalas 11, Lim 10, Ja. Bahillo 10, Nakashim 6, Je. Bahillo 6, Manansala 2, O. Ajoste 1.
Toyota 83 – Kim 35, Deleon Guerrero 18, Tarkong 11, Ogumoro 6, Pagarao 5, L. Rangamar 2, Barcinas 2, Babauta 2, Itibus 2.
Scoring by halves: 44-44, 99-83.
Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Arnold Mesa.