Susan’s Catering serves up upset of New Chang Ming

Susan’s Catering fried New Chang Ming Market, 95-90, in the open division of the 2nd Annual Saipan Centennial Lions Basketball League last Wednesday at the Civic Center Basketball Court in Susupe.

Nobody gave Susan’s Catering a ghost of a chance against New Chang Ming, but the team caught a break with almost half of the latter’s roster indisposed. 

It also helped that Matt Duenas was on fire all game long to carry most of the offense for Susan’s Catering.

Still with Susan’s Catering taking on a skeleton squad, it saw itself down 18-20 after the first quarter before taking modest 3- and 4-point leads in the middle periods.

Exceptional shotmaking by professional scorer Joseph Torres then guided them home in the 5-point win.

Duenas led all scorers with 30 points, while Torres and Ronald Bernardo added 25 and 20 markers, respectively, as Susan’s Catering improved to 5-4.

Gerald Flores and Rodel Pastrana fired 21 and 18 points, respectively, to lead New Chang Ming, which dropped to 4-2 in the open division.

Earlier, Ol’Aces got a season-high 39 points from Ben Pelisamen to beat Double A Corp., 117-84, in the masters division.

Pelisamen’s brother, Freddie, played wingman this time and finished with 21 points as the Oleai team won its fourth game in six tries. John Jugos had 25 points and Oliver Rivera 21 but they weren’t enough to save Double A from its fifth loss against a lone win.

Last Monday, Susan’s Catering started its upset spree by beating JTM Saipan, 92-78 (5-3). That playdate also saw Ali’i win a low-scoring game against K2 Ballerz (2-5), 57-53, in the open division.

The evening prior, Checkpoint International (1-8) finally nailed its first victorty after edging Socho (1-7), 88-84. Also in the open division, Puerto Rico Bento (5-3) bended Lakay (3-5) to its will, 71-54.

First Game 
Ol’Aces 117 – B. Pelisaman 39, F. Pelisaman 21, Libuw 14, George 13, Tudela 11, Mendiola 8, Joab 8, Rangamar 3.
Double A Corp. 84 – Jugos 24, Rivera 21, Catalla 10, Lontoc 19, Tolentino 7, Palero 6, Tenorio 6.
Scoring by quarters: 29-21, 70-47, 97-65, 117-84.


Second Game
Susan’s Catering 95 – Duenas 30, Torres 25, Bernardo 20, Galarse 15, Genese 6.
New Chang Ming Market 90 – Flores 21, Pastrana 18, Gontar 14, Aranda 10, Almario 10, Santos 9, Castro 8.
Scoring by quarters: 18-20, 48-45, 73-69, 95-90.