Mariana Resort draws first blood in Emon Lodge

Marianas Resort’s Jorge De Guzman towers above PIC Chefs defenders as he goes up for a banked shot during the fourth quarter of the opening game in the Emon Lodge masters caging last Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Mariana Resort launched a second-half surge behind its much deeper roster and tougher frontliners to have a rousing start in the masters league. Sweet-shooting forward Jun Alipio led five Mariana Resort players in double figures with his 18 points. Lefty wingmen Joseph Galulu and Dennis Cortez chipped in 13 and 12, respectively, while quarterback Elmer Pineda and big man Jorge De Guzman added 10 apiece. De Guzman teamed up with Ed Cosino and Art Montes in manning the paint for Mariana Resort, while other members of the team are Emir Abuan, Boy Garcia, Fyke Sabino, and Jess Estonil.

PIC Chefs is bannered by gunner Jun Tabora and Rodney Catalla, who made their presence felt early in the game, combining for 14 points in the first quarter to keep the team afloat, as Mariana Resort was up by only a hair, 18-17.

Mariana Resort then created more breathing room in the second quarter, as it earned 20-plus points with every player it fielder in the match contributing on offense. Eight different players lit up the scoreboard for Mariana Resort with four of them nailing at least four markers apiece to lift the squad to a 43-35 halftime edge. PIC Chefs logged no more than 20 markers anew in the second period, as only Tabora and Catalla consistently hit their targets.

Catalla kept going in the second half, firing two triples and adding 10 points, however his hot shooting was countered by Mariana Resort’s even scoring. Seven players shared the load for Mariana Resort, which stretched its advantage to twin digits by the end of the third canto, 67-55.

In the fourth period, Mariana Resort pulled away, leading by as much as 25 points. Again, Mariana Resort had a balance attack in the fourth canto with Abuan anchoring the team’s offense with his seven points. Four other Mariana Resort players earned at least four markers apiece in the fourth-frame break away, while it was still Tabora and Catalla’s show in the final canto for PIC. Tabora finished with a game-high 27 points, while Catalla registered 20. Butch Sublemente was the third best scorer on PIC’s side with seven and the rest of the team combined for only 14 points.

Meanwhile, five other squads joined Mariana Resort and PIC Chefs in the parade of teams during the opening of the league. Blue Haus, Hawaiian Rock, Armatech, D&Q Degree, and Armatech complete this year’s competition. Blue Haus and Hawaiian Rock played in the second game and results of the match will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Thursday issue.

Mariana Resort 94 – Alipio 18, Galulu 13, Cortez 12, Pineda 10, De Guzman 10, Abuan 9, Montes 5, Cosino 2, Garcia 2.

PIC Chefs 71 – J. Tabora 27, Catalla 30, Sublemente 7, Francia 6, D. Tabora 5, Novo 2, Guzman 1.

Scoring by quarters: 18-17, 43-35, 67-55, 94-71.