Warriors trounce fading Bankers

After a 3-0 start, Bank of Saipan is slowly fading into the sunset.

The Taga Warriors secured another win in the masters division of the 2008 FMI Inter-Color Basketball League trouncing the slumping Bankers, 101-82, in Friday night’s game at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

It was the Warriors’ third straight win improving their record to a league-best 5-1 mark. They have not lost since suffering from an 86-82 setback against GEC Pawnshop on May 2.

The loss dropped former leader Bankers, which went on a 3-0 start, to a tie with the Tan Holdings/CTSI Pacers from third to fourth place with similar 3-3 slates behind the second-running Pawnbrokers’ 4-2 card.

Bull-strong Ronald Delos Reyes frolicked his way inside the paint and also punctured the hoops with his consistent outside sniping and ran away with a game-high 37 points.

He scored 22 points bridging the second and third quarters to help the Warriors break a 28-all first quarter tie and establish a 78-59 lead entering the final canto.

Delos Reyes, who is one of the reliable free throw shooting big men in the now defunct UFO Basketball League, also went 9-for-10 at the charity line.

Elmer Pineda supported Delos Reyes’ game-long brilliance scattering 26 points. He scored 10 of those 26 in the first quarter to help the Warriors prevent the Bankers to pull away.

Jessie Nicdao and Danny Bicera added 13 and 12 points also for the Warriors.

Sonny Ebuen and Alex Ocampo netted 20 markers each for the Bankers while Lillo Tiples chipped in 15 more.

SMF Seabridge 104, MIGS 94

James Villacrusis drilled in 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to help SMF Seabridge secure a 104-94 win over hapless and still winless MIGS.

Kevin Bernardo paced SMF with 29 points, while Leo Itaas ended up with 19 markers. Ruther Demigillo had a quiet 10.

The loss spoiled another brilliant performance by Raymond Cadagat, who led MIGS’ losing cause with 24 points, while Delos Reyes, who played for the Warriors in the first game, and Jun Tabora finished with 23 each.
[B] First Game[/B]

Taga Warriors 101 – Delos Reyes 37, Pineda 26, Nicdao 13, Bicera 12, Dizon 8, Abedes 5.

Bank of Saipan 82 – Ebuen 20, Ocampo 20, Tiples 15, Villegas 8, Delos Santos 6, Lopez 4, Marasigan 4, Darag 3, Dacula 2.

Scoring by quarters: 28-28, 55-42, 79-58, 101-82.

Referees: Jess Pabula and Dado Vistal.
[B] Second Game[/B]

SMF Seabridge – Bernardo 29, Villacrusis 23, Itaas 19, Demigillo 10, Mortos 8, Capalad 7, Lerio 4, Galvez 2, Manansala 2.

MIGS – Cadagat 24, Delos Reyes 23, Tabora 23, Dugos 8, Doronilla 6, Tagle 6, Cabaddu 2.

Scoring by quarters: 25-26, 59-48, 73-69, 104-94.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Gilbert Espino.