Sonics near sweep of regular season

The Southern Sonics moved a win away from sweeping the regular season of the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League after crushing the Kontenders, 77-58, Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Sonics now have a 7-0 record and a victory over the San Antonio Sixers on Oct. 2 will give them a sweep of the regular season and the pennant championship. San Antonio is the only other unbeaten team that could foil the Sonics’ pennant bid. The Sixers hold a 4-0 slate.

While the Sonics remained at the top of the team standings, the Kontenders continued to plummet, having lost their last four games.

The Kontenders dropped to a 2-4 record despite getting a total of 41 points from Trevor Ogumoro, Jester Kaipat, and Eugene Dillay, who all came off the bench.

The Sonics’ bench matched the Kontenders’ output, but they played more as a team, as eight players worked together to get those points.

The Kontenders’ starting five let their team down, as Dennis Ngirongor, Douglas Dillay, Derek Abraham, Pomee Mailou, and Jay Charley tallied only eight points.

The Sonics’ starting five, which was composed of Michael Eclevia, Sheen Metran, Bryan Ajoste, Tristan Ecalnea, and Lawrence Echon combined for 27 points.

Eclevia made the Sonics’ first two baskets and hit all his six points n the first half, which saw the Jesse Tudela-coached squad ahead by 11 points, 39-28.

The Sonics were never threatened from thereon, as the Kontenders had only Ogumoro and Kaipat making wonders for their team and they were no match against the solid starting five and supporting crew of Southern.

The Sonics had 14 players making it into the scoreboard, while the Kontenders had only eight.

Ecalnea paced Southern with 11 points, while Leo Galarse chipped in nine. Two Sonics players added six points apiece, while six had four markers each.

Kaipat led all scorers with 20, while Ogumoro contributed 15.

The Kontenders have two more games left and must win them to avoid being paired with a tough team in the playoffs. The Kontenders’ next assignment will be the G-Stars on Sept. 30 and their last game will be against the Chalan Kanoa Saints on Oct. 6.

Tonight, the last two place teams in the standings will collide with the Suns facing the Rollers II.

The Suns made it into the win column after dropping their first four games following their 43-38 triumph over the Saints on Sept. 15. But they failed to continue their winning ways when they lost to the Sonics on Sept. 19, 49-68.

The Rollers II has the worst record in the nine-team league with its 0-7 slate. Tonight will be the Rollers II’s last chance to enter the win column.

Sonics 77 – Ecalnea 11, Galarse 10, Chan 9, Eclevia 6, Catap 6, Salas 5, Ajoste 4, Metran 4, Echon 4, Villanueva 4, Masga 4, Salem 4, Cadiang 2, Dela Cruz 2.

Kontenders 58 – Kaipat 20, Ogumoro 15, E. DIlay 8, Mailou 4, Kileleman 2, Charley 2, D. Dillay 2.

Scoring by halves: 38-29, 77-58.

Referees: Connie Camacho and Gabriel White.