Sonics XVIII and XVII triumph

Sonics XVIII’s Jeremie Manansala, right, pulls up for a one-hander in front of a Saipan Vegas Extreme player during the second half of their game in the boys division of the 2017 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament yesterday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

After dropping its debut, Sonics XVIII earned back-to-back victories, while Sonics XVII also won at the resumption of games in the 2017 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Sonics XVIII, which bowed to M&M Salas Ol’Aces during the tournament’s opening day last Dec. 27, downed Saipan Vegas Elite last Saturday, 83-42, and Saipan Vegas Extreme yesterday, 103-38, to move to second place in the team standings in the eight-squad field. Sun Palace, Kanoa Resort, and M&M Salas Ol’Aces are tied for the first place with their similar 2-0 records (pending the complete results of yesterday’s matches in the boys division).

Sonics XVII is in third place with its 1-2 record, breaking into the win column after defeating Sonics XVI last Tuesday, 54-44. Sonics XVI has the same mark as Sonics XVII, while Saipan Vegas Elite holds a 0-2 slate and Saipan Vegas Extreme owns a 0-3 card to stay at the bottom of the team standings.

Saipan Vegas Extreme had only six players when it challenged the Sonics XVIII, which paraded a nearly complete lineup. With enough manpower, Sonics XVIII controlled the match right from the get-go, leading at 44-18 by halftime. The Sonics XVIII kept going in the second half for the most lopsided victory so far in the tournament.

Saipan Vegas Extreme also had a depleted lineup in their match against Kanoa Resort last Tuesday, allowing the latter to cruise to an 83-48 victory.

Kanoa drew double figures from four players with Warren Ellama leading the way with his 19 points. Jaydon Tenorio chipped in 13, while D.J. Ong and Joseph Muna contributed 12 and 10, respectively. The output of these four players were enough to outgun the entire Saipan Vegas Extreme crew, which got 14 points from Francisco Mizutani.

In the Sonics XVI-XVII tiff, Christian Bravo and Parsley Linaogo teamed up in lifting the latter to the 10-point win. Bravo and Linaogo tallied 12 points each, while John Caruana and J.D. Ejercito combined for 11 more markers. Joshua Chavez paced Sonics XVI with his 10 points.

Meanwhile, in the girls division, Fiesta Resort and CTSI posted contrasting wins.

Fiesta eased past IT&E, 32-22, while CTSI edged Marianas Variety, 35-33.

Nana Watanabe scored CTSI’s last 6 points to help her squad escape past Marianas Variety. She finished the game with 11 markers and all came in the second half, which started with CTSI clinging to an 11-9 lead.
Tawnie Manibusan and Miki Kautz had 11 and 10 points, respectively, on a losing effort for Marianas Variety.

In the other girls division game, Fiesta Resort leaned on Irish Pagarao and Sharmaine Francisco to beat IT&E. Pagarao tallied 8 markers, while Francisco had 7, and five other Fiesta Resort players made it to the team’s box scores.

Only five players hit the board for IT&E, which missed the services of its key player Jeraldine Castillo.

BOYS DIVISION
First Game
Kanoa Resort 83 — Ellama 19, Tenorio 13, Ong 12, Muna 10, Santos 9, Deleon Guerrero 4, Seok 4, Garijo 4.
Saipan Vegas 48 — Mizutani 14, Lahara 10, Atan 10, King 9, Tisa 3.
Scoring by halves: 41-24, 83-48.

Second Game
Sonics XVII 54 — Bravo 12, Linaogo 12, Caruana 6, Je. Ejercito 5, Bayot 4, Cadag 3, Jo. Ejercito 2, Favor 2, Francisco 2.
XVI 44 — Chavez 10, Dancel 9, R. Bernardo 6, Contreras 5, Favor 4, Magat 2, Mendoza 2.
Scoring by halves: 29-22, 54-44.

GIRLS DIVISION
First Game
CTSI 35 — Watanabe 11, Alegre 7, Pablo 6, Alferos 4, Espinosa 4, Ito 2.
Marianas Variety 33 — Manibusan 11, Kautz 10, Flores 5, Han 2, Reyes 2, Villagomez 2.
Scoring by halves: 11-9, 35-33.

Second Game
Fiesta Resort 32 — Pagarao 8, Francisco 7, Borja 4, Joyce 6, Ngalongalo 3, Avelino 2, Tuazon 2.
IT&E 22 — Marasigan 7, Pena 6, Lumabi 4, Jerlyn Castillo 4, Ocampo 1.
Scoring by halves: 12-7, 32-22.