Diamond boosts finals bid

Diamond Auto Care is a step away from advancing to the finals of the 2009 BANMI/Budweiser Basketball League after walloping Ol’Aces, 89-76, Friday night at the Garapan Basketball Court.

Also cruising to an easy win at the Garapan court was Quichocho Law Office, which downed the Runnin’ Rebels in the second match, 104-95.

Diamond Auto Care is unbeaten in three games in the playoff round and was aiming for the first finals ticket against Docomo Pacific last night. The Docomo-Diamond tiff was played at 8pm last night, but results were unavailable at press time.

Quichocho earned its first win in the playoffs after losing to Ol’Aces on April 1. Runnin’ Rebels were booted out of the tournament after dropping their first two games in the playoffs.

Quichocho was playing IT&E in the first game last night with the loser joining Runnin’ Rebels in the showers and the winner advancing against the CNMI Nationals.

Ol’Aces missed Freddie Pelisamen, giving Diamond Care less worries on defense.

Elias Rangamar tried to fill the void left by Pelisamen on Ol’Aces’ offense and had little success, as his team kept pace with Diamond Care in the first half.

The first half ended at 43-all before the Auto Fixers seized control of the match in the third canto, which had Diamond ahead, 65-59.

Ol’Aces never recovered from thereon, as Rangamar had only two teammates helping him mount a comeback in the payoff quarter.

Bruce Berline and Pando Muleta paced Diamond with 18 points apiece, while Elmer Esdrelon and Errol Peredo chipped in 14 and 12 markers, respectively.

Rangamar led all scorers with 26 points, while Junior Renguul had 12, but was scoreless in the second half. Romeo Iginoef finished with 11 points, but had only two field goals in the final 20 minutes of the match.

In the second game, Bonbon Cadagat exploded for 43 points to keep Quichocho’s finals bid alive.

Cadagat led Quichocho’s breakaway in the second half, canning consecutive triples. He finished with nine triples in the game.

Darwin Barbo took care of business in the shaded lane and added 20 markers.

Quichocho led by as much as 20 points in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, 89-69, before it slowed down, allowing the Runnin’ Rebels to have a decent finish in the seven-team league.

Diamond Auto Care 89 – Berline 18, Muleta 18, Esdrelon 14, Peredo 12, Talania 4, Guiab 4, Brostom 4, Joyner 3, Camacho 2, Capalad 2.

Ol’Aces 76 – E. Rangamar 26, Renguul 12, Iginoef 11, P. Camacho 10, White 8, Olaitiman 4.

Scoring by quarters: 25-all, 43-all, 65-59, 89-76.

Quichocho 104 – Cadagat 43, Barbo 20, Mendoza 8, Moises 7, Lerio 6, Itaas 5, Palero 4, Tagle 3, Jugos 2.

Runnin’ Rebels 95 – Tumaquip 18, Iguel 16, Norita 15, Coldeen 5, Ogumoro 5, Kenty 2, Taisacan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-21, 54-32, 79-66, 104-95.