Sixers still unbeaten, Suns notch second win

The San Antonio Sixers kept their bid for a sweep alive after thwarting the Chalan Kanoa Saints, 78-52, while the Suns topped the Rollers II, 44-39, in last week’s games in the the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The win improved the Sixers’ record to 5-0. Victories over the Southern Sonics and the CNMI Junior Nationals will give San Antonio a sweep of the regular season and the pennant title.

The Sonics are also gunning for a sweep and will face the Sixers this Thursday. The Sixers were supposed to duel the CNMI Junior Nationals last Friday, but the game was rescheduled as the latter left for Guam to compete in the ongoing 7th FIBA Oceana Youth Tournament.

With the Sixers-Junior Nationals’ tiff called off, organizers decided to play the make-up game between the Sixers and the Saints, which was originally set for Aug. 27, but was canceled due to a power outage.

Friday night, the Sixers’ Joe Ada and Ernest Duenas were simply too much to handle for the Saints’ defense—or the lack of it.

Ada exploded for 29 points, while Duenas chipped in 23.

Ada and Duenas alternately burned the hoops and gave the Sixers a commanding 45-21 halftime lead en route to San Antonio’s fifth win in as many games.

The Saints absorbed their fifth loss in six games and are likely to become the last seeded team in the playoffs.

Only the Top 8 teams in the nine-squad field will advance to the single-elimination playoffs.

The Saints are currently in eighth place and will play the Kontenders in their last game next week.

The Suns are up one notch from the Saints in the team standings, after their win against the Rollers II Thursday night.

The Suns are in seventh place, holding a 2-4 record. Their last two games will be against the G-Stars and the Rollers I.

Jimmy Brel paced the Suns’ five-point win over the Rollers II hitting 12 markers.

The Rollers II finished the league without a win in eight games and was the first team to be eliminated in the 18-and-under caging.

It had a chance to enter the win column before bowing out of competition after leading by six in the first half, 20-14. But the Suns outscored the Rollers II in the second half, 32-19, to steal the win.

Suns 44 – Brel 12, M. Lisua 6, Salas 6, Fleming 4, Yamada 4, Maratita 4, Calvo 4, R. Lisua 2.

Rollers II 39 – Mabini 17, Deleon Guerero 6, Norita 4, Babauta 4, M. Manglona 2, E. Manglona 2, Brennan 2.

Scoring by halves: 14-20, 44-39.

Referees: Connie Camacho and Gabriel White.
[B] Friday’s Game[/B]

Sixers 78 – Ada 29, E. Duenas 23, Benavente 14, Pepito 6, M. Duenas 4, Feria 2,

Saints 52 – Tudela 22, Reyes 20, Iglecias 4, Lizama 4, Stoll 2.

Scoring by halves: 45-21, 78-52.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Connie Camacho.