Toyota, Nissan dispute Bud Cup title

The stage is set for the finals of the 2005 Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League as two-time defending champion Bud Light-Toyota Tundra and MARPAC-Nissan Titans disposed of their younger opponents in Friday’s semifinals at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the opener, Toyota kept their hopes of going for a three-peat alive after downing sister-team and No. 4 seed O’Douls-Ol’Aces with a lopsided 127-90 victory.

Toyota’s frontcourt cast had a fiesta as Taj Van Buren, Edsel Mendoza, and Abong Camacho each scored more than 20 points to spearhead the team to the finals.

The Ol’Aces were able to keep the game close in the first quarter, with Rowell Aranda attacking the lane and even knocking down a triple for 15 points, helping O’Douls close with a five-point deficit, 29-34.

It was all Toyota after that as Van Buren buried a couple of triples, perimeter shooter Junior Renguul drilled four jumpers, highlighting the defending champions’ 32-point performance that resulted in a 15-point cushion at the break, 66-51.

Toyota’s unselfish play continued to work well in their favor as the team moved the ball around and dominated the paint to stretch their lead. Van Buren was firing away, Camacho worked his magic in the shaded lane and by the time the period was over, Toyota was well ahead with a 29-point spread, 101-72.

It was cruise control from then on as Toyota worked their half-court set, with Mendoza finishing off the campaign with 10 points in the last 10 minutes.

Mendoza and Van Buren had 23 points apiece, while Camacho and Elias Rangamar pumped in 22 and 15 points. Renguul, Elias Saralu, and Romeo Iginoef also finished in double figures.

Aranda led the Ol’Aces with 28 points, while Shan Seman and Mel Tagabuel finished with 16 and 14 points. Jack Lizama also chipped in 10 points.

In the second game, the No. 3 Titans fought off a 10-point deficit late in the fourth period, forced overtime, and stunned No. 2 Bud Ice-SaipanCell Hoopaholics with an 88-83 victory.

The Titans received a huge performance from slotman Jawn Joyner, who was on fire and accounted for almost half of the team’s points.

Joyner began his evening by swooshing 11 points in the first quarter to help his team open with a slim 20-16 lead.

Hoopaholics then inched closer in the second stanza as deadeye sniper John Sablan connected for two bombs from long range and Jeremy Sablan sizzled for three baskets to help their team close the half down by just a field goal, 36-38.

Hoops continued to fire on all cylinders and finally took the lead, 50-48, on a jumper by Jeremy Sablan with about 2:30 remaining in the quarter, eventually finishing off the period with a 57-53 lead.

Hoops continued to hit from all corners and began to distance themselves, but a desperate attack by the Titans in the closing minutes turned the tables as Joyner and Andres “Jhun” Estolas Jr. took care of business with 10 and seven points in the fourth to rally and knot the score at 75-75, forcing overtime.

Estolas would then hit two key free throws and Aleric Aguon connected on two baskets to lift the Titans to the finals.

Joyner finished with a game-high 40 points, while Aguon and Estolas contributed 14 and 12 points. Power forward Kelvin Fitial also added 10 points.

With the results, the Ol’Aces and Hoopaholics will play at 7pm on Monday for third place. The Titans and Toyota will then begin Game 1 of their best-of-three series at 8:30pm. Game 2 is scheduled for 7pm on Wednesday, with Game 3 on Friday if necessary.

First Game
Bud Light-Toyota 127 – Mendoza 23, Van Buren 23, Camacho 22, Rangamar 15, Iginoef 13, Saralu 11, Renguul 11, Celes 5, Pua 4.
O’Douls-Ol’Aces 90 – Aranda 28, Seman 16, Tagabuel 14, Lizama 10, Dillay 9, Olaitiman 7, Kapileo 4, Iguel 2.
Scoring by quarters: 34-29, 66-51, 101-72, 127-90.
Referees: Jess Pacheco and Noel Delos Santos.

Second Game
MARPAC-Nissan 88 – Joyner 40, Aguon 14, Estolas 12, Fitial 10, Peters 4, Deleon Guerrero 4, Wesley 2, Quitugua 2.
Bud Ice-Hoopaholics 83 – Jo. Sablan 29, Je. Sablan 16, Amado 13, Manibusan 8, Mendiola 6, Garcia 4, Awes 4, Diaz 3.
Scoring by quarters: 20-16, 38-36, 53-57, 75-75, 88-83 (OT).
Referees: Arnold Mesa and Dado Vistal.