NMC and Autonomous clash for last finals slot

Autonomous and Northern Marianas College will duel for the last championship ticket in the Inaugural PTI Inter-Government/Business Basketball League tonight at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Game time is at 7pm.

Incidentally Autonomous (formerly Office of the Public Auditor) and NMC collided in last season’s championship showdown and an early rematch in the losers’ bracket semifinals tonight would mean one team will miss a return trip to the finals.

NMC, which is this year’s pennant winner, had the chance to advance to the finals first when it moved into the winners’ bracket semis against PTI.

But PTI foiled NMC’s bid for back-to-back finals appearance with a convincing 94-90 victory Thursday night.

The loss dropped NMC to the losers’ bracket and put the Rufino Aguon-mentored squad in a must-win situation against Autonomous.

Autonomous earned the right to face NMC for the second finals berth after outlasting the Department of Corrections Friday night, 83-69.

Tonight’s game will be the third time that NMC will be facing Autonomous with the former holding a 2-0 record against the latter.

NMC, which finished the regular season with a 10-1 record, won against Autonomous in the elimination round via forfeiture.

The pennant champion routed the Legislature in its first game in the double-elimination playoffs and was pitted against Autonomous in the second round. Autonomous downed DOC in its first game in the playoffs, 82-68.

Spectators were expecting a close game between Autonomous and NMC in the second round, but the latter whipped the former, 88-77.

In that loss, Autonomous played without Ed Diaz and Tim Wesley. Wesley was off island, while Diaz missed Autonomous last two games due to an injury before suiting up for the defending champions in their victory over DOC last week.

Diaz announced his re-entry to the Autonomous’ roster via a 25-point performance against Corrections. Wesley also made significant contributions for Autonomous, adding 15 markers.

With Diaz and Wesley around, helping Bobby Coldeen on offense, Autonomous hardly felt the absence of Ponce Rasa in their game against DOC.

If Autonomous’ four gunners and former NCAA player Richard Brostrom are available for tonight’s game, the defending champion will have a solid starting five against NMC

But Autonomous’ bench is doubtful, as it has only Chris Camacho and Mitch Aaron coming off the bench.

NMC has several players to back up starters Mark Wallace, Jose Tumaquip, Joe Villacrusis, Mel Manibusan, and Jerry Diaz. Aguon can count on himself, Gyles Ruluked, Lawrence Buniag, Jacob Villagomez, Ray Roberto, and Chris Tomokane.

The winner of the NMC-Autonomous playoff match will have to prevail against PTI twice to claim this year’s championship trophy. PTI earned a twice-to-beat advantage in the finals after sweeping its first three games in the playoffs.