Ol’Aces gain second victory

The Ol’Aces took the early lead in the U19 division of the 20th Annual Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball after downing Rollers 1, 44-32, last Friday at the TSL Sports Complex.

The Ol’Aces now have a 2-0 record in the youth league, while Rollers 1 dropped its debut.

Both teams started slow, as the Aces led by on a bucket, 6-4, after eight minutes of play. Then the Ol’ Aces’ offense warmed up in the second quarter, as they padded the lead to seven at halftime, 16-9. Juan Maratita led his team with six points in the first half.

The Rollers 1 worked its way back into the game at the start of the second half, moving within two after the third period, 22-24. Six players scored for Rollers 1 to threaten the defending champions.

However, Maratita and Sahj Hossain stepped up for the Ol’Aces in the clutch, combining for 14 points to foil Rollers 1’s upset bid.

Maratita finished with 16 markers, while John Darag top-scored for Rollers 1 with six.
[B] Sonics 80, NMC Proa 25[/B]

In the second game, the Sonics recovered from their opening day loss to the Ol’Aces with a 80-25 victory over NMC Proa.

The Sonics jumped to an early 11-2 lead, as Proa struggled to find the bottom of the net in the opening eight minutes.

Proa slowly picked up its scoring in the second after making a couple of long balls, but the Sonics also hit their target to amass a 33-14 margin at the half.

Jaymark De Guzman led the Sonics in the first half with his 11 points, while Paul Samson had eight for Proa.

Proa’s offense went cold again after the break, as it drilled only four points.

The Sonics’ Nevim Salem outscored the entire Proa crew with his six points in the third, which ended with last year’s finalists way ahead, 56-19.

The Sonics were merciless in the final canto, firing 24 markers against Proa’s six.

Melvin Cadiang and Salem top-scored for the Sonics with 14 points apiece, while Proa’s Samson finished with a team-high 11. Proa dropped to a 0-2 slate.

The season continues tonight at 5pm with Hi-5 (1-0) taking on the CK Blazers (0-1).

In related news, the Rotary organizers are holding a 6pm meeting tomorrow for all coaches, managers, and team representatives to finalize preparations for the U15 division opener.
[B] First Game

Ol’Aces 44[/B] – Maratita 16, Hossain 12, De Leon 6, Ichihara 4, Iguel 2, Mizer 2, Taylor 2.
[B] Rollers 1 32[/B] – Darag 6, L. DL Guerrero 5, Francisco 5, Diaz 4, J. Norita 4, Cenir 2, Nakayama 2, Sauarez 2, Taitano 2.

Sonics 80[/B] – Salem 14, Cadiang 14, De Guzman 11, Sula 8, Jo. Villanueva 7, Aranda 7, Alegre 5, Del Rosario 4, A. Palacios 4, Je. Villanueva 4.
[B] NMC Proa 25[/B] – Samson 11, J. Habijan 4, Lapuz 3, Madreo 3, Aguilar 2, J. Palacios 1.