First win for Purple Rain, Hard Kulangot

Purple Rain and Hard Kulangot barged into the win column in the 2015 Blue Haus/IT&E Inter-Color Basketball League after beating separate opponents over the weekend at the Navy Hill court.

Hard Kulangot’s Jerome Pollisco is pressured in the backcourt by Oh My J’s Nate Mateo, right, and James Sablan during the second half of their game in the Blue Haus-IT&E caging last Saturday at the Navy Hill court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Last Friday, Purple Rain cruised past the debuting Eh Di Wow, 65-52, to bounce back from 50-67 spanking from Wag Kang Pabebe, while Hard Kulangot also recovered from its opening loss to Makalaro Lang (61-74) with a 75-74 overtime victory against Oh My J last Saturday.

Brian Lontoc hit the go-ahead basket under the one minute mark of the extension period, while a split from Jerome Pollisco with nine seconds left in regulation sent the match in overtime.

Pollisco missed his first charity and made the second one to force the deadlock, 62-all, and set up Hard Kulangot’s come-from-behind win as the team clawed its way back from a 10-point deficit, 39-49.

Oh My J, which played its first game, had a chance to win in regulation and avoid a collapse as it sued for time after Pollisco went 1-for-2 from the foul line. However, team captain Junar Guiab’s 3-point attempt near the left corner was too strong, sending the match into extra five minutes.

Oh My J started the overtime with two quick baskets on Guiab’s layup and James’ Sablan’s drive for a 66-62 advantage. However, Hard Kunglot fought back and won the next exchange with Lontoc’s fastbreak layup again capping their 13-6 scoring, with 55 seconds remaining on the clock.

Hard Kulangot had an opportunity to widen the gap, but Lontoc this time missed on his drive against Guiab. Fortunately, Oh My J also faltered on its two offensive sets and later after another Hard Kulangot missed, Ferdie Tobias fumbled, causing a leather scramble with the clock ticking. Sablan picked up the loose ball, but was later stripped of possession by J.R. Barrios, who dribbled down the time to preserve Hard Kulangot’s shaky lead and grab the win from Oh My J

Barrios paced Hard Kulangot with his 22 points, while Lontoc and Marlon De Dios chipped in 13 apiece. Nate Mateo matched Barrios’ output to lead Oh My J, which drew 21 points from Guiab. Tobias was the third double-figure scorer for Oh My J, but was on the bench when Hard Kulangot made the run.

In the first game, four Purple Rain players broke into double figures to ease past Eh Di Wow.

Paul Bautista had 15 for Purple Rain, which got 13 markers apiece from Adrian Flores and Rey Deleon Guerrero and 10 from big man Bruce Berline.

Purple Rain led right from the start and was never threatened as Eh Di Wow had only Lerio Paragao consistently hitting his shots in the lone match last Friday.

Meanwhile, results of the second game last Saturday between Makalaro Lang and Red Rice will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Tuesday issue.

FRIDAY
Purple Rain 65 – Quitugua 15, Flores 13, R. Reyes 13, Berline 10, Isip 9, Leomo 4, Yarofalir 2.

Eh Di Wow 52 – Pagarao 25, Itaas 9, A. Reyes 7, J. Reyes 6, Santos 4, Cortez 2.

Scoring by halves: 34-26, 65-52.

SATURDAY
Hard Kulangot 75 – Barrios 22, De Dios 13, Lontoc 13, Cultura 6, Garcia 6, Ebuen 3, Pollisco 3.

Oh My J 74­ – Mateo 22, Guiab 21,, Tobias 14, Sanciangco 8, Enriquez 6, Sablan 3.

Scoring by halves: 32-41, 62-62, 75-74 (OT)