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Hyatt strikes first in HANMI Cup
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Posted on Nov 27 2006
Hyatt Regency Saipan started its campaign in the 2006 Inter-Hotel Basketball League HANMI Cup with a bang as the team followed up winnign the Best in Uniform Award by beating Hotel Nikko Saipan Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
Sporting their award-winning uniforms, the Hyatt cagres showed that it was not only their jerseys that were good. The team dominated from start to finish and worked the ball around well to score a 110-71 victory.
The team scored the first three baskets of the game, setting the tone of things to come. Hotel Nikko Saipan was able to close the gap early in the opening period, but Hyatt was able to pull away and double up on their opponents for a 24-12 lead at the end of the quarter, with Bernard Aquino leading the way with 10 points.
Mike Umali picked up where Aquino left off and broke loose with 16 points, pushing Hyatt farther ahead. Hyatt was controlling the bout, and while Umali was taking care of the scoring load, the rest of the cagers punched in impressive performances with rebounds, blocks, and quick passing. By the time the first half came to an end, Hyatt was up by 24 points, 53-29.
Veteran Ronald Delos Reyes tried to bring some life to Hotel Nikko’s corner in the third period as the big man worked aggressively, drew fouls, and scored 11 points, seven coming from the free throw line. Despite Delos Reyes’ efforts, Hyatt was able to increase the lead, outscoring the opposition, 28-23, for an 81-52 advantage.
Delos Reyes continued to push hard for Nikko, adding another 13 points, but the deficit was just too much to overcome and Hyatt wound up registering the first win of the season with a 39-point winning margin.
Aquino and Umali led Hyatt with 30 and 25 points, while Edmark Mendoza and Bobby Vargas added 16 and 14 points. Krigel Arreza also had 10 points.
Delos Reyes finished with a game-high 35 points to lead Hotel Nikko.
The HANMI Cup, organized by the Northern Marianas Bartenders Association, will resume tonight with four more teams making their debuts.
The first game at 8pm will feature Fiesta Resort and Spa taking on Pacific Islands Club, while the 9:30pm second game will pit powerhouse Aqua Resort Club squaring off against Marianas Resort and Spa.
[B]Hyatt 110[/B] – Aquino 30, Umali 25, Mendoza 16, Vargas 14, Arreza 10, Dillay 5, Rodriguez 4, Calub 2, Villamor 2, Tolentino 2. [B]Nikko 71[/B] – Delos Reyes 35, Pineda 8, Salazar 6, Elayda 5, Bansil 4, Manalo 3, Fernandez 2, Silil 2, Federizo 2, Bulaklak 2, Satur 2. [B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 24-12, 53-29, 81-52, 110-71. [B]Referees:[/B] Abner Venus, Arnold Mesa, and Noel Delos Santos.
