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NMC needs sweep to win PTI caging pennant
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Posted on Sep 01 2008
The last two games in the Inaugural PTI Inter-Government/Business Basketball League will be the deciding factor in the race for the pennant trophy between Northern Marianas College and PTI.
PTI had already completed its assignment in the regular season, ending the single round-robin elimination with a 10-1 record.
NMC holds an 8-1 slate and has two more games left. It will face Autonomous today and the Commonwealth Ports Authority tomorrow at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
An NMC sweep will put the team in a tie for first place with PTI. But NMC will still get the No. 1 seeding in the playoffs and the pennant, as it beat PTI in their lone meeting this season, 87-82.
NMC is mentored by CNMI National coach Rufino Aguon, who has several members of the CNMI National Team playing for the college.
They are Mark Wallace, Joe Villacrusis, and Mel Manibusan. Wallace and Villacrusis did most of the damage for NMC in their victory against PTI. Wallace erupted for 33 points, while Villacrusis chipped in 23.
Meanwhile, only eight teams will advance to the playoffs, which will start on Thursday, if power permits.
Organizers have yet to release the official list of the playoff qualifiers, but besides NMC and PTI, the six other teams which are expected to make it to the next round are defending champion Autonomous, Department of Community and Cultural Sports, Bank of Guam Express, DOC, Aguaguat and the Legislature.
The first round of the playoffs will have the No. 1 team squaring off with the No. 8 squad, No. 2 vs No. 7, No. 3 vs No. 6 and No. 4 vs No.5.
A double elimination format will be in implemented in the playoffs.
Last year, Autonomous (formerly Office of the Public Auditor) won the championship after outclassing NMC in the title series.
OPA lost Game 1 of the best-of-three title showdown, 79-82. It recovered in Game 2, 76-63, to force a deciding Game 3. OPA completed its come-from-behind victory with a 9-82 triumph in Game 3.
