Nationals bounce back, beat Ol’Aces

The CNMI Men’s National Team bounced back from its opening day loss to SIP, while Bud Ice made a scintillating debut as the 2006 Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League entered its second of competition Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Seeing action in the curtain raiser, the Nationals went down early against Ol’Aces, but took the lead in the second half before holding back a last-ditch stand by the defending champions to win 95-92.

Ol’Aces relied on a trio of former national players to dominate coach Rufino Aguon’s boys in the opening 10 minutes, as brothers Peter and Abong Camacho and Gyles Ruluked combined for 23 points to give the Oleai team 30-22 spread.

But the Nationals put together a more respectable performance in the second, and with guard Gus Palacios heating up for eight points and center Mel Manibusan tossing in six, they were able to slash Ol’Aces’ advantage in half, 48-44, at the break.

The Nationals made their move at the start of the second half, as Dan Barcinas and Freddie Pelisamen tormented their former ‘mates for 19 points to help their current team to a 75-68 lead going into the fourth and final quarter.

The meltdown in the third seemed to invigorate the defending champs in the payoff period as they made a run on the Nationals’ lead.

Both teams traded haymakers in an attempt to knock down the other, but in the end the Nationals got the breaks and a three-point flurry by Barcinas and two charities by Palacios sealed the deal and leveled the team’s record to 1-1, while dealing Ol’Aces their second loss in as many outings.

Barcinas led the way for the Nationals with 21 points, while Palacios, Pelisamen, and Jeremy Winkfield contributed 10 points or more in the victory.

Peter and Abong Camacho paced the defending champions in the loss with 28 and 17 points, respectively, while playing coach Elias Rangamar fired 15.

In the nightcap, Bud Ice got 43 points from young studs Kevin Cequena and Rowell Aranda as they steamrolled past Cyclones 111-88.

After a 24-18 first quarter, Bud Ice stepped on the accelerator in the second and never looked back taking the half, 53-38, the third, 82-55, and then finally took the Cyclones out of their misery with the 23-point win.

Cequena fired 23 and Aranda 20 to spearhead the Bud Ice rampage, while Justin Fejeran and Gary Lashley were brilliant in defeat with 32 and 27 points, respectively.

FIRST GAME

Nationals 95 – Barcinas 21, Palacios 12, Pelisamen 12, Winkfield 10, Je. Sablan 9, Fitial 6, Villacrusis 6, Lee 6, Manibusan 6, Wallace 5, Jo. Sablan 4.

Ol’Aces 92 – P. Camacho 28, A. Camacho 17, Rangamar 15, Ruluked 11, Van Buren 11, Celis 2, Iguel 2, Seman 2, Renguul 2, Tagabuel 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-30, 44-48, 75-68, 95-92.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Eric Artillaga.

SECOND GAME

Bud Ice 111 – Cequena 23, Aranda 20, Estolas 16, Dalangin 10, E. Mendoza 10, Domingo 8, Delos Reyes 6, Factor 6, J. Mendoza 4, De Dios 4.

Cyclones 88 – Fejeran 32, Lashley 27, Yu 10, Berline 8, Palacios 4, Villagomez 4, Andrew 3.

Scoring by quarters: 24-18, 53-38, 82-55, 111-88.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Eric Artillaga.