PTI keeps perfect record alive in win against ATM

Buoyed by the presence of company president and CEO Ricardo Delgado, PTI rallied to beat defending champion Autonomous, 95-88, last Wednesday in the 2008 PTI Inter-Government Business Basketball League.

Delgado flew to Saipan aboard the final Manila-Saipan flight of Continental Micronesia to grace the opening of the company’s PTI Express Center at the TSL Plaza in Garapan then suited up for the team a short time later.

With a number of PTI employees and their fans present at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, the Dolphins and Autonomous played a nip-and-tuck first quarter that resulted in PTI taking a candlestick, 16-15 spread.

Autonomous, however, would return the complement in the second stanza, as strong scoring from forwards Ed Diaz and Steve Rasa allowed the former Office of Public Auditor team to overtake PTI and lead 47-43 after the first half.

The game was tight as it could be in the third with both teams taking their best shot against each other.

Big men Edsel Mendoza and Kelvin Fitial and guards Elmer Esdrelon and Ryan Sanciangco carried the fight for PTI, while Diaz, Rasa, and forward Tim Wesley led Autonomous.

However, after three quarters of play both teams were back to square one with the score all tied up at 64-all.

It was anybody’s ballgame in the payoff period as the lead swung back and forth between the two top-flight teams.

Autonomous had the driver’s seat heading into the homestretch but crucial defensive stops by PTI coupled with key baskets allowed the hosts to take the lead and eventually hold on to the seven-point win.

Despite limping off the court with an injury, Edsel Mendoza still topscored for PTI with 25 points, while Esdrelon and Sanciangco added 22 and 18 markers, respectively. Fitial also came up big, hitting 17.

PTI thus maintained its lofty perch atop the government caging league’s team standings with a 4-0 win-loss record.

Diaz, meanwhile, paced Autonomous in its second loss in six games with a game-high 28, while Rasa and Wesley combined for 27 more markers.

In the second game, Department of Public Works routed Commonwealth Ports Authority for only its second win in six outings, 89-72.

Edgar Pangelinan shot the lights out at the Oleai Sports Complex venue with 36 markers, while Jerome Reyes’ 28 paced CPA, which is still looking for its first win after four games.

[B]First Game

PTI 95[/B] – Mendoza 25, Esdrelon 22, Sanciangco 18, Fitial 17, Berline 9, Yamada 2.

[B]Autonomous 88[/B] – Diaz 28, S. Rasa 15, Wesley 12, Camacho 9, P. Rasa 8, Coldeen 4, Aaron 3, Pangelinan 3, Ada 2, Garon 2.

[B]Scoring by quarters[/B]: 16-15, 43-47, 64-64, 95-88.

[B]Second Game

DPW 89[/B] – E. Pangelinan 36, Takai 21, Iglecias 12, Tudela 7, Tomokane 4, G. Pangelinan 2.

[B]CPA 72[/B] – Reyes 28, Duenas 14, Camacho 11, De Gracia 7, Sablan 7, Taitingtong 2.

[B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 20-12, 40-27, 64-47, 89-72