Youth standout and Sixers I main man Kevin Cequena ran his old team to the ground in their 81-70 triumph over Garapan Rollers I in the curtain raiser of last Monday\u2019s 2004 Saipan Rotary Club Summer Youth Basketball League doubleheader at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.<\/p>\n
The win was the ninth straight for Cequena and Sixers I. The team now has a chance to complete an undefeated run through the regular season and bag the pennant championship with wins over Chalan Kanoa Saints tonight and Makos next week.<\/p>\n
G-Rollers I was in no mood to give the game away in a silver platter to Sixers I. Coach Joe Diaz had his boys play a slowed down and methodical game in the first half, which effectively put a cork on Sixers I and coach Ryan Nisperos\u2019 run-and-gun attack.<\/p>\n
Sixers I led by just 8 points, 35-27, after the first 20 minutes of play with Cequena torching the net with 12 markers.<\/p>\n
G-Rollers I continued to shadow their favored opponents in the second half as gangly forward Pete Iguel built on his first half success by once again mocking defenders assigned to him.<\/p>\n
Frustrated to no end by their inability to pull away, Sixers I players only compounded their woes by playing individual basketball to breakdown G-Rollers I\u2019s suffocating defense.<\/p>\n
Luckily for Nisperos and his boys, Sixers I played just well enough to escape the upset axe and the team was able to celebrate with an 11-point win.<\/p>\n
Cequena led all scorers with 23 points and 6 rebounds. Swingman Rowell Aranda, another UFO player like Cequena, also collected 16 markers. Adrian Echon also chipped in 11 points and 7 steals in the victory.<\/p>\n
Iguel and former Shark Lester Babauta paced G-Rollers I with 21 and 13 points, respectively. Iguel also came away with 9 boards, 4 assists, and 10 steals in the loss.<\/p>\n
In the nightcap, Sparks limited the CNMI Women\u2019s Junior National Team to a measly 4 points in the first half en route to a 68-11 victory.<\/p>\n
Zack Diaz and Lensie Ogarto scored 14 and 12 points, to lead Sparks. Diaz was also good for 9 rebounds, while Ogarto stole the ball eight times.<\/p>\n
Point guard Chariss Ruluked had 6 points, 3 boards, and 3 steals in the loss, while center Vanessa Diaz hauled down 8 caroms for the Nationals.<\/p>\n
The 18-and-under Rotary league resumes today with Sixers II taking on Garapan Rollers III in the 5:30pm first game. The 7pm second game will have Sixers I squaring off against Makos.<\/p>\n
First Game<\/p>\n
Sixers I 81 \u2014 Cequena 23, Aranda 16, Echon 11, B. Flores 10, Ranas 7, Kaipat 5, Ngeskebei 4, A. Flores 3, Encio 2.<\/p>\n
Garapan Rollers I 70 \u2013 P. Iguel 21, Babauta 13, Kaipat 8, Teregeyo 8, L. Iguel 6, Tumaquip 5, Taisakan 4, Chariton 2, Aldan 2, Omar 1.<\/p>\n
Scoring by halves: 35-27, 81-70.<\/p>\n
Second Game<\/p>\n
Sparks 68 \u2013 Diaz 14, Ogarto 12, Reyes 10, Richard 8, San Nicolas 7, Ben. Jones 4, Mario 4, Konrad 4, Salas 3, Ber. Jones 2.<\/p>\n
CNMI Women\u2019s Junior National Team 11 \u2013 Ruluked 7, Stein 2, Diaz 2.<\/p>\n
Scoring by halves: 34-5, 68-11.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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