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Nationals, Quichocho Law Office recover
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Posted on Feb 17 2009
The CNMI Nationals reclaimed the lead, while Quichocho Law Office also regained its form as the two teams thwarted separate foes in the 2008-2009 BANMI/Budweiser Basketball League Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
The Nationals capitalized on the depleted crew of IT&E to cruise to a 104-85 victory, while Quichocho outclassed Diamond Auto Care, 93-85.
The win improved the Nationals’ record to 4-1 and put them in solo lead, half a game ahead of IT&E, which dropped to a 4-2 slate.
The Nationals for the second straight game missed gunner Jericho Cruz, but it was IT&E, which was hurt more by the absence of its three key players.
Cruz, who did not play Wednesday night due to flu, was on Tinian Monday night playing for Hyatt Regency Saipan in an invitational league. Wowie Abuel, Kae Bernardo, and Jun Estolas were also in the same league playing for various teams.
Rabauliman returned to action for the Nationals after missing Wednesday’s game where they lost to Quichocho, 80-87, and teamed up with Pete Iguel and Jayvan Tarkong in leading the Nationals’ breakaway in the second half.
The Nationals were ahead by only two points at halftime, 41-39, when Tarkong, Iguel, and Rabauliman scored in spurts in the third increasing the lead to 10, 70-60.
The trio combined for 19 of the Nationals 29 points in the third period and James Camacho joined the scoring spree in the fourth for a 19-point win.
Iguel finished with 36 points, while Rabauliman and Tarkong nailed 21 and 16, respectively. Camacho added 12 markers, making nine of them from downtown.
In the first game, Sonny Lerio top-scored for Quichocho Law Office’s eight-point triumph exploding for 31 points.
Quichoho, which lost to the Ol’Aces Friday, now has a 3-3 slate, while Diamond is still winless in four games.
[B]First GameQuichocho Law Office 93 –[/B] Lerio 31, Capalad 18, Itaas 14, Moises 9, Pantaleon 9, Doronilla 9, Tagle 3.
[B]Diamond Auto Care 85[/B] – Peredo 17, Muleta 13, Dayrit 11, Joyner 11, Brostrom 10, Camacho 8, Capalad 8, Talania 4, Marasigan 2,Gamboa 1.[B] Scoring by quarters:[/B] 21-19, 39-38, 65-53, 93-85.
[B] Second Game[/B] [B]CNMI Nationals 104[/B] – Iguel 36, Rabauliman 21, Tarkong 16, Camacho 12, Tumaquip 11, Johnson 6, Moses 2.
[B] IT&E 85[/B] – Mendiola 21, Ranola 21, De Vero 17, Montano 15, Artates 7, Mercurio 4.
[B] Scoring by quarters:[/B] 24-17, 41-39, 70-60, 104-85.
