Buenabajo 3-pointer lifts GEC past Fixers

Matt Buenabajo only scored three points but sank the game-winning shot to help GEC Pawnshop squeeze out a 75-74 win over the Fixers in the Inaugural FMI Inter-Color Basketball League’s masters division last Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

With the Pawnbrokers trailing 72-74 in the final three seconds of the game, the Fixers did not defend the seldom-used Buenabajo thinking his shot would not go in.

But Buenabajo’s 3-pointer went through the net stunning the Fixers as the buzzer sounded and celebration erupted at the GEC bench.

The win was the second straight for the Pawnbrokers after suffering a 95-105 loss to Bank of Saipan last April 3.

Amor Casabuena paced GEC with 33 points with Sonny Rañola adding 17 markers.

Bruce Berline led the Fixers with 15 points but shot 31 percent at the free throw line going 5-for-16. Yasu Irinaka and Richard Brostrom, who missed two free throws in the final second of the match that could have preserved the win for the Fixers, added 13 and 11 apiece.

The Pawnbrokers scored a sweep of sorts after Mark Wallace scored 34 points to lead their open division team escape with a 104-99 win over SMF Seabridge in the second game.

Manuel Ajoste had 31 markers to provide scoring support for Wallace, while Michael Olaitaman chipped in a modest 11 points.

Leo Itaas topscored for SMF with 33 points.

In the third game, Jonathan Lim scored 21 points to lead three other players who finished in double figures as the Advance X-Terminators coasted to a 113-69 thrashing of Star Water.

Ron Gamboa scattered 16 points, while Kelvin Fitial and Edsel Mendoza chipped in 14 and 13 markers also for the X-Terminators, who scored their fourth straight win to join Ol’Aces on top of the standings.

Krisgel Arreza continued to be the Waterkings’ main offensive threat, ending up with a game-high 35 points but failed to get ample support from his teammates. Art Salazar had 11.

GEC Pawnshop 75 – Casabuena 33, Rañola 17, Palero 7, Celes 6, Viola 4, Buenabajo 3, Culala 2, Olivos 2, Peredo 1.

Fxers 74 – Berline 15, Irinaka 13, Brostrom 11, Poland 7, Ruluked 7, Aguon 5, M. Alegre 4, Dela Torre 4, B. Valencia 4, Renguul 2, Salazar 2, Tamondong 1.

Scoring by quarters: 17-23, 34-41, 51-61, 75-74.

Referees: Eric Artillaga and Jess Pabula

GEC Pawnshop 104 – Wallace 34, Ajoste 31, Olaitiman 11, Camacho 6, Palero 6, Wesley 6, Cacho 5, Umali 5.

SMF Seabridge 99 – Itaas 33, Bernardo 29, Villacrusis 9, Lerio 7, Mortos 6, Capalad 4, Demigillo 4, Galvez 4, Delfin 3.

Scoring by quarters: 22-21, 37-42, 66-69, 104-99.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Dado Vistal.

Advance X-Terminators 113 – Lim 21, Gamboa 16, Fitial 14, E. Mendoza 13, J. Mendoza 9, Chan 8, Dayrit 8, Estolas 8, Artates 6, De Dios 5, Barrios 4, Ruluked 1.

Star Water 69 – Arreza 35, Salazar 11, Gapor 7, Hernandez 5, R. Achas 3, Mateo 3, Villasan 3, M. Achas 2.

Scoring by quarters: 29-13, 61-31, 89-48, 113-69.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Jess Pabula.