Lower Base barges into win column; Kanoa keeps lead

Lower Base’s William Benavente, center, is doubled team by two POI defenders during their game in the Tan Holdings caging last week at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Lower Base Warriors snapped their three-game losing skid following a 46-41 victory over Mambas in the third match in the 2016 Tan Holdings Inter-Company Basketball League last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Ariel Jinang towed Lower Base to its first win after scoring 14 points, including 5 of the team’s last 7 points. His triple late in the game kept Lower Base in the lead, while his pair of charities sealed the victory.

In other results, Kanoa Resort routed defending champion Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, 64-49, while Shirley’s Coffee Shop defeated Pacific Oriental, Inc., 54-45.

With the win, Kanoa remained unbeaten in four games and strengthened its hold to the top spot in the six-team field. Fiesta, with its on and off performance, dropped to an even 2-2 card, sharing the No. 2 to 3 spots with Shirley’s. POI fell to a 1-3 mark for a three-way tie for fourth to fifth place with Lower Base and Mambas.

Kanoa’s Big 3—Matt and Ernest Duenas and Douglas Schmidt—delivered the goods anew for the league-leading team, combining for 56 points. Matt and Schmidt tallied 21 points apiece, while Ernest contributed 12.

Matt’s 3 straight free throws and Schmidt triple at the end of the first half lifted Kanoa to a 27-21 advantage and the lead grew in the second, as they continued to hit their targets and Ernest backed them up.

Arjay Nonato led Fiesta’s losing cause, making 13 markers, while Elmer Esdrelon chipped in 11.

In the Shirley’s-POI tussle, Erick Dela Rosa powered the former to the 9-point win after registering 20 points. John Jugos recorded 11, while Jerome Pollisco logged 8, and Ariel Drilon and Angel Catungal combined for 12.

First Game
Shirley’s 54 —Dela Rosa 19, Jugos 11, Pollisco 8, Drilon 6, Catungal 6, Nicdao 4,
POI 45—Tenepere 16, Arago 12, Yu 8, Santos 7, Ramos 2.
Scoring by halves: 27-20, 54-45.

Second Game
Kanoa 64 — Duenas 21, Schmidt 21, Duenas 12, Sacramento 5, Pablo 3, Rabauliman 2.
Fiesta 49 —Nonato 13, Esdrelon 11, Maratita 9, Matsutaro 7, Rivera 5, Vivero 2, Macoto 2.
Scoring by halves: 27-21, 64-49.

Third Game
Lower Base 46 — Jinang 14, Garcia 8, W. Benavente 7, Salazar 4, Banizero 4, Alegre 3, Sablan 2, Ilago 2.
Mambas 41 — De La Torre 13, Raho 8, Pagarao 7, Ong 4, Chan 3, D. Angeles 2, Rabago 2.
Scoring by halves: 18-15, 46-41.