Blue Haus, Vision RNV going opposite directions

Blue Haus continued to be spotless in the masters division, while Pacific Islands Club Saipan remained winless in the open division as action in the United Filipino Organization IT&E 2019 Basketball League resumed Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

League leader Blue Haus painted the town red against IT&E in the first game en route to an 89-74 victory, which raised their perfect record to 8-0. IT&E dropped to 4-3.

Led by bull-strong Junar Guiab, Blue Haus thoroughly dominated the first quarter as it doubled up IT&E, 26-13. The carnage carried over in the second quarter with Ehrol Peredo this time taking the controls from Guiab, as Blue Haus took a 45-28 spread at the halftime break.

Jawn Joyner and Sonny Lerio tried their best to revive IT&E’s hopes of an upset in the third quarter, firing 8 and 6 points, respectively, but Blue Haus continued to roll, this time behind Tony Diaz’s hot shooting and they continued to lead, 70-52, heading into the payoff period.

Blue Haus emptied their bench in the fourth quarter and their shock troopers proved up to the task of maintaining their lead, as they cruised to the 15-point win.

Peredo led Blue Haus with 15 points and was ably supported by best player of the game Guiab’s 15, which were the same points scattered by Diaz. Joyner paced IT&E with his 17, followed by the 15 points apiece by Lerio and Dexter Tenorio, who played despite an injury.

In the second game, Pacific Islands Club Saipan is still in search for its first win in the open division after losing to Vision RNV, 88-80.

Its season of futility appeared to have a chance of ending after a competitive first half against Vision RNV. With Raymark Castro and James Abuy combining for 15 points, PIC kept pace with their opponents down by only 5 points, 22-27, after the first 10 minutes of action.

PIC outdid itself in the second, as some stingy defense and hot shooting allowed them to trim their deficit even further, as Vision RNV only led, 43-41, after two quarters of play.

That trend come crashing down at the start of the third, however, as Vision RNV asserted itself and thanks to 13 points from best player of the game Ivan Devero, they increased their spread to 68-58 going into the last 10 minutes of the game.

Devero paired with Ehrol Peredo in the fourth quarter as Vision RNV completely shut the door on PIC to gain its third win in seven games.

Devero led Vision RNV with 25 markers, while Ronald Rueda contributed 19—all in the first half. Abuy and Castro played brilliantly in the loss with 23 and 19 points, respectively.

First Game
Blue Haus 89 – E. Peredo 21, T. Diaz 15, Guiab 15, E. Diaz 9, Esdrelon 7, Berline 6, R. Peredo 6, Culala 6, Buenabajo 2, Garcia 2.
IT&E 74 – Joyner 17, Lerio 15, Tenorio 15, G. Masga 14, D. Masga 5, Zapata 5.
Scoring by quarters: 26-13, 45-29, 70-52, 89-74.

Second Game
Vision RNV 88 – Devero 25, Rueda 19, Peredo 16, Esdrelon 12, Odicta 4, Poolina 4, Tagle 4, Taraya 2.
Pacific Islands Club 80 – Abuy 23, Castro 19, Norita 15, Ma 15, Dan 7.
Scoring by quarters: 27-22, 43-41, 68-58, 88-80.