PSS, DCCA make it two in a row

The Public Schools System and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs continue to play well in the ongoing 2006 Inter-Government Basketball League, both posting their second win of the season Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

PSS took the Legislature Lawmakers to school in the opener, using a late run to streak to a 99-63 victory.

The two teams were neck and neck in the first 10 minutes of action as the Lawmakers kept pace with their quick opponents. Sim Iramk connected on two 3-pointers and had eight points, while Ray Duenas and Dexter Mendiola combined for nine points, helping the Lawmakers close the quarter in good shape as they trailed by just a field goal, 21-23.

The tightly fought ballgame continued in the second stanza as both teams managed to respond to each others’ runs. PSS, however, was able to pad their lead to five points, 53-48, at the break, with Peter Mendiola and Taj Van Buren providing most of the damage as the duo combined for 11 points.

The lessons finally got underway in the third quarter as PSS picked up their defensive intensity and used their quick transition offense to produce countless fastbreak points en route to outscoring their opponents, 24-10, to move into the break ahead by a whopping 19 points, 72-53.

The Lawmakers continued to struggle from the field and weren’t able to break their cold shooting as the team mustered 10 points in the fourth, while giving up 27 points.

Van Buren and Gary Lashley led PSS with 19 and 15 points, while guard Lawrence Buniag and power forward Francis Mendiola contributed 13 and 11 points.

Guard Ray Duenas continued his strong play with 18 points, while Iramk and Mendiola supported him with 17 and 12 points.

In the second game, DCCA duplicated PSS’ effort and cruised to a 93-69 victory over the Department of Public Works.

DCCA got off on the right foot as the team dominated the boards, forced several turnovers, and were quick with their outlet passes that resulted in Mario Sablan breaking loose for the team’s first eight points.

Sablan added another bucket, Rom Iginoef worked his magic in the paint, and DCCA more than doubled up DPW for a 26-12 advantage.

Tyrone Attao and Eric Atalig tried to pull DPW closer with a combined 13 points in the following period, but their efforts weren’t enough as DCCA continued to run on all cylinders and headed into halftime with a 50-32 lead.

DCCA outscored their opponents, 24-9, in the third for a commanding 74-41 lead, and DPW put up a desperation charge in the final minutes before faltering.

Iginoef sizzled for 35 points to lead all scorers, while Sablan and Jonathan Tenorio added 16 and 12 points for DCCA.

Atalig led DPW with 16 points, while Attao and John Deleon Guerrero finished with 14 points apiece. Myron Sablan also chipped in 11 points.

First Game
PSS 99 – Van Buren 19, Lashley 15, Buniag 13, F. Mendiola 11, P. Mendiola 8, Mendez 8, Rayphand 6, Villagomez 6, Gross 6, Rosic 5, Mizutani 2, Duenas 1.
Legislature 63 – Duenas 18, Iramk 17, Mendiola 12, Camacho 5, Ngeskebei 5, Bernard 4, Besong 2.
Scoring by quarters: 23-21, 48-43, 72-53, 99-63.
Referees: Jess Pacheco and Noel Delos Santos.

Second Game
DCCA 93 – Iginoef 35, Sablan 16, Tenorio 12, Taisacan 8, Benavente 7, Dela Cruz 7, Tagabuel 5, Pua 3.
DPW 69 – Atalig 16, Attao 14, Deleon Guerrero 14, Sablan 11, Tomokane 7, Cabrera 4, Norita 3.
Scoring by quarters: 26-12, 50-32, 74-41, 93-69.
Referees: Arnold Mesa and Gilbert Espinosa.