SIP, No Zone take Bud Cup openers

Samahang Ilokano at Pangasi-nense and No Zone were successful Saturday evening, taking the opening games of the 2006 Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

SIP, which has won four titles in the UFO league, was impressive in its Bud Cup debut as the team controlled the second and third quarters and defeated the CNMI Men’s National team, 77-63.

Defense was the story in the opening period, which ended with the Nationals holding a 10-8 edge.

SIP then kicked into turbo mode as Jawn Joyner knocked in a couple of triples plus a regular field goal to help the team outscore their opponents, 22-12, for a 30-22 halftime lead.

The lead grew in the third as Joyner again connected for two bombs and Elmer Esdrelon and Pete Mendiola added long jumpers of their own, enabling SIP to head into the final stanza with a 57-38 advantage.

Down but not out, the Nationals got into a rhythm and worked their way closer, but despite outscoring SIP, they did not have enough to pull through.

Joyner led SIP with 18 points, while Rick Alegre and Esdrelon pumped in 14 and 11 points. Mendiola also contributed 10 points.

Mel Manibusan and Mark Wallace led the Nationals with 14 points apiece, while Jeremy Sablan added 12 points.

In the second game, No Zone came back from a 14-point first quarter deficit to beat three-time defending champion Ol’Aces, 91-86.

The Ol’Aces came out storming and grabbed a 30-16 lead after the first period, but No Zone quickly closed the gap by dominating the paint. The team finally overcame their deficit and led, 45-44, at halftime.

No Zone continued to control action in the paint and as a result, stretched their lead to as much as eight points in the second half.

The Ol’Aces pulled closer in the final 10 minutes and a triple by Luis Iguel gave the team the lead, 77-76, but Gus and John Palacios responded with consecutive buckets in the paint for an 80-77 advantage.

The lead grew to eight again, but triples by Jake Celes cut the deficit to three, 86-89. Carl Hocog then secured the victory for No Zone with two shots from the charity line.

John and Gus Palacios led No Zone with 24 and 22 points, while Jonavan Lizama and Tano Calvo finished with 14 and 12 points.

Shan Seman led the Ol’Aces with 37 points, while Celes and Taj Van Buren contributed 20 and 15 points.

First Game

SIP 77 – Joyner 18, Sait 18, R. Alegre 14, Esdrelon 11, Mendiola 10, T. Alegre 4, Olson 2.

Nationals 63 – Wallace 14, Manibusan 14, Sablan 12, Palacios 8, Villacrusis 5, Fitial 4, Rasa 4, Barcinas 2.

Scoring by quarters: 8-10, 30-22, 57-38, 77-63.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Eric Artillaga.

Second Game

No Zone 91 – J. Palacios 24, G. Palacios 22, Lizama 14, Calvo 12, Cabrera 9, Hocog 8.

Ol’Aces 86 – Seman 37, Celes 20, Van Buren 15, Iguel 7, Tagabuel 7.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Gilbert Espinosa.