Price Costco stuns Xterminators, Pacers nail 3rd win

Price Costco caught the Advance X-Terminators on their off night to score a thrilling 97-96 overtime win in Sunday night’s open division game in the 2008 FMI Inter-Color Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the masters class, the Tan Holdings/CTSI Pacers coasted to their third straight win with a 108-83 drubbing of former leader Bank of Saipan in the second game.

The Storemasters leaned on the end-game heroics of the seldom-used Ernie Duenas and the indefatigable Bruce Berline to bring the Xterminators, who were still in Cloud 9 after scoring a 105-103 win over Ol’Aces last week, back down to earth.

The win improved the Roger Valencia-coached Storemasters’ record to an even 3-3 card to fortify their playoff chances in the nine-team field. Price Costco’s win also ended the X-Terminators’ six-game winning run.

Duenas and Berline combined for 17 points in the fourth quarter and in overtime to complete the win. Duenas scored eight of his team’s 29 fourth quarter points to force overtime. Berline scored four markers in overtime, both crucial baskets to foil the Xterminators’ bid of winning their seventh straight game.

Berline paced Price Costco with 22 points but continued to struggle at the free throw line going 6-for-14, 4-for-10 in the first half where they found themselves trailing the Xterminators at 56-41.

Price Costco also shot a combined 19-for-42 at the stripe for a 45 percent clip with perennial top scorer Dave Sablan, who finished with 17 points, going 4-for-11.

Duenas, who usually scores less than six points a game, erupted for 19 markers with eight coming in a telling fourth quarter rally. Ben Sablan added 11 more for the Storemasters.

Jonathan Lim and Lerio Pagarao each finished with 24 points for the X-Terminators, while Edsel Mendoza scattered 13 points. Andres “Jhun” Estolas Jr., who scored a season-high 40 in their win against Ol’Aces last week, was held to 13 points.

CTSI Pacers 108, Bank of Saipan 83

In the masters division, Edel Cariño played like a man possessed in the second half to lead the Pacers to a 108-83 crushing of Bank of Saipan.

Cariño scored 19 of his season-high 26 points in the second half to lead the Pacers to their third straight win after losing their first three games. The loss also avenged the Pacers’ 89-100 first round loss to the Bankers.

Cariño got plenty of support from Ferdie Tobias and Ariel Jinang, who chipped in 17 and 15 each, while Adonis Macoto and William Opone netted 12 and 11 markers.

Cariño, Jinang, and Opone were also members of HANMI Cup champion Fiesta-Grand Hotel.

James Abuy scored 23 points to lead the Bankers, while Warren Villegas and Alex Ocampo contributed 12 and 11 apiece.

Shirley’s/Blue Haus 100, Star Water 75

Ryan Sanciangco, Bing Marasigan, and John Santos scored in the 20s as Shirley’s Coffee Shop/Blue Haus waltzed to a 100-75 win over Star Water in the other open division game.

Sanciangco scored 17 of his team-high 27 points in the final half, while Marasigan scattered 25 points and Santos finished with 23. Elmer Esdrelon had a quiet 11 markers.

McClein Achas paced the Waterkings with 28 points, while Sherwin Samson and Roderick Lopez added 14 and 11 each.

Ol’Aces will try to bounce back from their last week’s loss to the X-Terminators when they battle darkhorse TASI Tours Giants in tomorrow’s 8pm game. The Fixers try to end its five-game slide when they clash with GEC Pawnshop in the first game.

First Game

Shirley’s Coffee Shop 100 – Sanciangco 27, Marasigan 25, Santos 23, Esdrelon 11, Barbo 8, Camacho 4, Montano 2.

Star Water 75 – Mc. Achas 28, Samson 14, Lopez 11, R. Achas 8, Mateo 8, Iguel 4, Sacramento 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-16, 45-35, 68-58, 100-75.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Dado Vistal.

Second Game

Tan Holdings/CTSI Pacers 108 – Cariño 26, Tobias 17, Jinang 15, Macoto 12, Opone 11, Galag 7, Salazar 7, Dimaano 4, Solidum 3, Alcantara 2, Alejandro 2, Garcia 2.

Bank of Saipan 83 – Abuy 23, Villegas 12, Ocampo 11, Ebuen 9, Delos Santos 8, Tiples 8, Darag 5, Dacula 4, Lopez 3.

Scoring by quarters: 27-25, 51-48, 80-66, 108-83.

Referees: Eric Artillaga and Jess Pabula.

Third Game

Price Costco 97 – Berline 22, Duenas 19, D. Sablan 17, B. Sablan 11, Johnson 9, Lauron 8, Alfonso 2, Irinaka 2.

Advance X-Terminators 96 – Lim 24, Pagarao 24, Estolas 13, E. Mendoza 13, Capalad 6, Fitial 6, Artates 4, Dayri 2, J. Mendoza 2, Ruluked 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-22, 56-41, 60-74, 89-89, (OT) 97-96.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Jess Pabula.