Ol’Aces advance to title game

Powerhouse Ol’Aces made use of what little personnel it had to advance to the finals of the Inaugural FMI Inter-Color Basketball League after beating GEC Pawnshop, 106-94, Sunday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Oleai team dressed only six players but that didn’t prevent them from forging a best-of-three championship series against Advance X-Terminators set this coming Sunday, also at the Oleai Sports Complex hardwood.

Led by the 28 combined points of shooting devils Jericho Cruz and Fred Pelisamen, Ol’Aces took control early and led 36-27 following a high-scoring first quarter.

It was Pete Iguel’s turn to light up the scoreboard in the second, as the do-it-all swingman exploded for his own dozen to make sure Ol’Aces stayed at the helm and entered intermission ahead, 61-47.

GEC Pawnshop tried to mount a comeback in the third frame, courtesy of the nine markers of spitfire Manuel Ajoste, but the point guard’s scoring flurry proved too little as Ol’Aces remained in the driver’s seat, 84-72, after three quarters of play.

In the payoff period, Pelisamen reverted to his gun-slinging ways, firing eight more points to negate Ajoste’s own 10-point explosion and keep GEC Pawnshop on arm’s length, paving the way for the dozen-point victory for Ol’Aces.

Pelisamen led all scorers with 32 markers, while Cruz and Iguel added 23 and 18, respectively, in support. Hulking center Abong Camacho and ageless wonder Elias Rangamar pumped in 16 and 11 for good measure.

Ajoste led GEC Pawnshop’s losing cause with 24 points. Mark Wallace added 21, while bull-strong slotman Larry Palero and swingman Molly Cacho chipped in 17 and 11.

Advance X-Terminators last Thursday booked the first finals seat of the open division when it manhandled Tasi Tours Giants, 108-90.

The championships between Ol’Aces and Advance X-Terminators will be played starting 5pm on July 13. Prior to that, the finals of the masters 40-and-over pitting pennant champs Taga Warriors against GEC Pawnshop will be held beginning at 3:30pm.

Thursday, July 10, will see third place matches featuring CTSI and Bank of Saipan in the 40-and-over age group and Tasi Tours and GEC Pawnshop in the open division unfolding at the Ada Gym beginning 6:30pm.

Ol’Aces 106 – Pelisamen 32, Cruz 23, Iguel 18, Camacho 16, Rangamar 11, Rabauliman 6.

GEC Pawnshop 94 – Ajoste 24, Wallace 21, Palero 17, Cacho 16, Umali 6, Casabuena 4, Olaitaman 4, Wesley 2.

Scoring by quarters: 36-27, 61-47, 84-72, 106-94.

Referees: Jess Pabula and Gilbert Espinosa.