Hyatt squeaks past PSS/McGraw-Hill

Hyatt Regency Saipan showed poise in the homestretch to eke out a 79-73 victory against PSS/McGraw-Hill during their game in the 3rd Annual Shirley’s Coffee Shop Invitational Basketball League last Tuesday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Hyatt held PSS scoreless in the last 41.4 seconds of the game, forced two turnovers, and then went 6-for-8 from the foul line to end the latter’s winning run. PSS, which won four straight games, dropped to a 5-2 record and slid from second to a share of third place with Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan and defending champion Pacific Islands Club/NVM. Hyatt is in the middle of the pack with a 3-4 card.

PSS fell behind in the majority of the game, but found itself on top, 73-72, after Dave Sablan’s triple, less than a minute left in the match. PSS had a chance to stretch the lead when it regained possession after a Hyatt miss. However, Bernard Aquino swiped the ball away from a driving Walter Mendez.

Raymark Castro picked up the loose ball and fed Mike Umali on a fastbreak layup. Umali was a few steps ahead of his defender, but muffed the easy shot. Fortunately he got the rebound for a follow-up attempt and was fouled. Umali made both charities, giving the lead back to Hyatt, 74-73, 22.8 seconds to go in the game.

A Sablan miss and stepping violation returned the leather to Hyatt and in the inbound play, Jun Alipio wisely threw a long pass to Christian Devero, avoiding PSS’ backcourt pressure defense. Devero caught the ball and PSS’ Marlon Cabrera was called for an unsportsmanlike foul as he held down the former who was headed for a breakaway layup. Devero drilled both charities and Hyatt regained possession. Aquino added another free throw for a 78-73 cushion, with less than 10 seconds left on the clock and had another split to peg the final score after Sablan faltered on his triple and was forced to foul the former.

Devero paced Hyatt with 27 points, while James Villacrusis led PSS with 25 markers.

DFS Galleria 82, Shirley’s 71

In the second game of the night, DFS Galleria is back on the win column after beating Shirley’s.

DFS, which bowed to PSS in its previous match, did a great job protecting its lead in the fourth quarter to deny Shirley’s back-to-back wins and improve to a 6-2 record for solo second place behind Mobil (6-1). Shirley’s which notched its first win last Sunday after a 90-76 victory over Grillin’, fell to a 1-6 record and is in danger of not making it to the eight-team playoffs.

Shirley’s trailed early, 9-24, but made a big second-half rally, outscoring DFS in the last five minutes of that period, 20-4, to move within four at the break, 34-38. Then Shirley’s even grabbed the upper hand early in the third period, 45-44, off Wowie Abuel’s triple before DFS regrouped and closed the quarter with a 62-54 advantage. Dan Barcinas and Gabriel White saved DFS in the third, combining for 15 markers.

Barcinas went cold in the fourth, but Pete Iguel was there to keep DFS in control. Iguel scored five straight markers in the closing minutes to bring DFS’ lead back to double digits, 79-68, with less than three minutes left on the clock.

DFS hung in there, as Shirley’s only scored a triple in the remaining 2:46 of the match.

Iguel led DFS with 16, while J.R. Barrios tallied 24 in the loss. Kae Bernardo also finished in double figures for Shirley’s with 11, but had limited touches in the second half and was scoreless.

Hyatt Hotel 79 – Devero 27, Aquino 15, Castro 12, Mateo 11, Umali 8, Durant 4, Alipio 2.

PSS 73 – Villacrusis 25, Sablan 22, Fitial 10, Itibus 5, Mendez 4, Cabrera 4, Palacios 3.

Scoring by quarters: 23-16, 38-32, 61-50, 79-73.

DFS Galleria 82 – Iguel 19, Lizama 14, Guiab 14, White 12, Barcinas 9, Johnson 8, Jung 6.

Shirley’s 71 – Barrios 24, Peredo 13, Usi 12, Bernardo 11, Sedillo 6, Abuel 5.

Scoring by quarters: 24-9, 38-34, 62-54, 82-71.