G-II dethrones Sonics, Sixers barely survive

Garapan Rollers II scored the first upset of the 2006 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League playoffs, while No. 3 San Antonio Sixers held off a strong charge and survived Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Sixers got a run for their money against No. 6 Fotten Gaga I, and San Antonio had to really work hard to advance with an 82-78 victory.

Fotten Gaga I didn’t look like the team entering the game as the lower seed. Dhaniel Mateo nailed two triples and had 10 points, Lerio Pagarao had nine points, Wylie Paez added eight, and Mark Santos seven to lead the team to a 43-37 lead at the break.

Pagarao then took over for his team, scoring another 15 points in the second half.

The Sixers, however, countered with veterans Bill Babauta and Preston Basa, who have led the team throughout the regular season.

Babauta worked for 16 points and Basa 13, and the two combined to score the team’s final eight points to distance themselves just enough for the win.

Babauta finished with 21 points, while Basa and Ernest Duenas were solid in support with 17 points apiece. James Camacho also added 11 markers.

Pagarao finished with a game-high 24 points, while Santos contributed 15 points. Mateo and Paez each had 12 points, while Phillip Cequena pumped in 11.

G-II, which entered the playoffs as the No. 5 seed, was able to dethrone defending champion and No. 4 Southern Sonics, 70-67.

It was a tough task for G-II as the team trailed by 10 points at the end of the first half.

This after the Sonics controlled much of the opening half courtesy of Jon Lim and Jason Bahillo. The one-two punch gave coaches Jess Tudela and Brian Flores quality minutes as Lim worked for 12 points and Bahillo seven to spearhead a 35-25 run.

The G-Rollers II cagers were not ready to throw in the towel and turned to the team’s leading trio for the lift they needed, and Don Teregeyo, Jericho Cruz, and Anirut Tebuteb welcomed the challenge and responded to the liking of coach Jose Tumaquip.

With the three carrying the team on their shoulders offensively, the Garapan-based team was able to erase their deficit and take the lead.

Teregeyo knocked in 13 points and Cruz 12, with each hitting a triple late in the game, while Tebuteb pumped in 10 points to enable their team to pull off the upset.

Bahillo and Lim tried their best to keep their team’s hopes alive with 12 points apiece in the second half, but their efforts came up a bit short.

Cruz and Teregeyo finished with 19 points apiece, while Tebuteb supported with 14 points.

Lim and Bahillo led the Sonics with 24 and 19 points.

With the results, G-II advanced to play sister team G-Rollers I and the Sixers advanced to battle the Chalan Kanoa Saints in the semifinals, which were held last night. Results were not available as of press time.

First Game
Sixers 82 – Babauta 21, Basa 17, E. Duenas 17, Camacho 11, Jung 6, Blas 6, M. Duenas 4.
Fotten Gaga I 78 – L. Pagarao 24, Santos 15, Mateo 12, Paez 12, Cequena 11, Carino 4.
Scoring by halves: 37-43, 82-78.
Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Jess Pacheco.

Second Game
G-Rollers II 70 – Cruz 19, Teregeyo 19, Tebuteb 14, Ri. Salas 6, Ro. Salas 4, Catalla 3, Moses 3, Tellei 2.
Sonics 67 – Lim 24, Ja. Bahillo 19, Echon 6, Flores 6, Santos 4, Tilipao 3, Je. Bahillo 2, Del Rosario 2, Chan 1.
Scoring by halves: 25-35, 70-67.
Referees: Jess Pacheco and Noel Delos Santos.