G4S, MBI debut with wins

G4S and Micronesian Brokers, Inc. started their campaign in the Inaugural Shirley’s Coffee Shop Invitational Basketball League on a winning note, posting separate wins last Sunday at the JP Center Basketball Court.

G4S walloped Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan in the first game, 84-60, while MBI edged Pacific Trading, Co., 75-72, in the second match.

An anemic Fiesta offense in the first quarter allowed GS4 to seize control of the game early, leading at 19-9 after 10 minutes of play.

Fiesta could not still find its rhythm in the second quarter, while G4S continued to draw contributions from every player it fielded in the game to increase the lead to 25 at halftime, 43-18.

G4S never looked back from thereon, as Fiesta failed to make headway in the second half.

Manolito Basa and Junar Guiab led G4S’ debut win, nailing 15 points apiece, while Orlando Soriano also finished in double figures with 11 markers.

Jon March Ong and Mark Rabago were the only two players to score in double figures for Fiesta, tallying 10 each.

In the second game, Aries Cordero fired all his 12 points in the fourth quarter to help MBI halt Pacific Trading’s rally in the fourth quarter.

Behind by eight at the end of the third period, 45-53, PTC worked its way back in the game behind Jojo Garon, Erlan Lansang, and Frank Sarmiento. The trio combined for 25 of PTC’s 27 points in the fourth period, but Garon and Sarmiento muffed several free throws that could have won the game for them. Garon was 2-for-5 from the foul line in the payoff mark, while Sarmiento went 3-for-6.

In contrast, MBI went perfect from the foul line in the fourth period, going 4-for-4, and Cordero hit timely baskets to keep the lead and the win.

Art Trajano led MBI with 13 points, while Jeff Garcia equaled Cordero’s 12 points. Erlan Lansang led PTC’s losing cause with 24 markers.

G4S 84 – Basa 15, Guiab 15, Soriano 11, Sison 6, Chavez 5, Banatasa 4, Aquino 4, Hermoso 4, Angeles 4, Caras 4, Larioza 2.

Fiesta 60 – Ong 10, Rabago 10, De La Torre 7, Licop 7, Maliwanag 6, Moran 6, Mojar 5, Solidom 3, Salazar 2, Rodriguez 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-9, 43-18, 51-37, 84-60.
[B] Second Game[/B]

MBI 75 – Trajano 13, Garcia 12, Cordero 12, Achas 11, Alvarez 9, Barbo 8, Cabrera 4, Sese 2, Blas 2, Prado 2.

PTC 72 – Lansang 24, Garon 21, Sarmiento 13, Taisacan 6, Maglaya 4, Skilang 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-8, 32-27, 53-45, 75-72.