Lawmakers reach .500 mark, No Zone wins

The Legislature Lawmakers leveled their win-loss record while cagers of defending champion No Zone cruised to their third win as action in the ongoing 2006 Inter-Government Basketball League continued Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Lawmakers had their work cut out for them but still held on to beat Tinian, 90-87, to improve to 2-2.

Dave Sablan was superb for Legislature and got the team off to a good start as he swooshed the net for 15 points, hitting three bombs from downtown to push the Lawmakers ahead, 27-18, after one period of play.

Tinian was quick to retaliate as they turned the tables and swung favor to their corner with a strong charge of their own. Tinian’s balanced scoring attack worked well for them in the final 10 minutes of the first half as the team outscored their opponents, 29-17, to head into the break with a 47-44 lead.

Advantage returned to the Lawmakers as the team duplicated Tinian’s run with a balanced attack of their own to regain the lead, 70-61.

Tinian put up a desperation charge in the final minutes and managed to outscore the Lawmakers, however, still came up a bit short.

Sablan led all scorers with 36 points while Ray Duenas and Sim Iramk contributed 18 and 16 points. Dexter Mendiola and Bernard Cabrera chipped in 10 points apiece.

Anthony Borja led Tinian with 24 pionts while Jesse Manibusan and Rudy Borja added 14 and 13 points. Henry San Nicolas and Peter Manglona also had 12 and 10 points.

In the second game, No Zone dominated from the start en route to a 106-69 victory over Northern Marianas College Proa.

No Zone built a double-digit lead after just 10 minutes of play, 29-11, and despite letting NMC inch closer in the second period, was able to cruise in the second half with little resistance.

No Zone was in a zone of its own in the third and fourth quarters as the team combined to heat up the net for 61 points while limiting NMC to just 36 points.

Ed Diaz led No Zone with 26 points while John Sablan and Jess Stole finished with 15 and 12 points. Jerry Ayuyu supported with 11 points.

Kevin Castro led NMC with 18 points while Kelvin Aldan and Ray Roberto supported with 12 and 11 points.

First Game

Lawmakers 90 – Sablan 36, Duenas 18, Iramk 16, Mendiola 10, Cabrera 10.

Tinian 87 – A. Borja 24, Manibusan 14, R. Borja 13, San Nicolas 12, Manglona 10, A. Lizama 6, L. Lizama 4, Cruz 4.

Scoring by quarters: 27-18, 44-47, 70-61, 90-87.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Noel Delos Santos.

Second Game

No Zone 106 – Diaz 26, Jo. Sablan 15, Stole 12, Ayuyu 11, Pangelinan 9, Norita 8, Hocog 8, Palacios 6, Quitugua 5, Ja. Sablan 4, Cruz 2.

Proa 69 – Castro 18, Aldan 12, Roberto 11, Aguon 9, Masga 7, Ierome 4, MacDuff 3, Atalig 3, John 2.

Scoring by quarters: 29-11, 45-33, 74-48, 106-69.

Referees: Mike White and Jess Pabula.