DFS, Mobil enter semifinals

DFS Galleria and Mobil booked the first two semis tickets in the 3rd Annual Shirley’s Coffee Shop Invitational Basketball League after beating separate opponents last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Mobil ousted Hyatt Regency Saipan in the first playoff game, 102-93, while DFS sent Grillin’ home, following a 94-80 triumph in the second make-or-break match.

DFS built an early double-digit lead and then halted Grillin’ rally in the fourth quarter to force a semis duel against Mobil on Thursday. The other semis pairing will feature the winners of tomorrow’s two matches. Defending champion Pacific Islands Club/NVM will face PSS/McGraw-Hill at 6pm, while Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan will collide against Shirley’s at 8pm.

DFS took a 28-12 lead after the first period, as it capitalized on the absence of Grillin’s two gunners—Lerio Pagarao and Leo Galarse, who reported for the game only at the start of the second period. With the Grillin’ duo not available in the opening quarter, the team was held to only five field goals.

In contrast, offense was not a problem for DFS, as it drew 10 points from Won Joo Jung and nine from Pete Iguel in the first quarter to seize control of the match.

Galarse and Pagarao arrived in the second frame, but the latter was still looking for his rhythm and was held to two points, while the former contributed right away with his seven points. However, their presence were not enough to prevent DFS from pulling away with a 48-27 advantage at halftime. Iguel was still at it for DFS in the second canto, adding six markers, while Jack Lizama and Dan Barcinas combined for 13.

DFS maintained the double-digit lead after the third period, 69-53, as Grillin’ failed to contain Iguel and Lizama anew at the start of the second half.

Down by 16, entering the final canto, Pagarao and Galarse teamed up in Grillin’s 10-2 run in the first two and a half minutes of the fourth to move within eight, 63-71.

Jack Lizama canned a pair of free throws in the ensuing play to end the rally and DFS closed out strong with Jung, Iguel, and Lizama conniving in the homestretch.

Iguel paced DFS with 25 points, while Lizama and Jung chipped in 23 and 17, respectively.

Galarse top-scored for Grillin’ with 22, while Pagarao added 16.

In the first playoff game, Gyles Ruluked stepped in place of Marvin Rabauliman, while Jun Estolas had his usual high-scoring night to lift Mobil to the nine-point win.

Estolas fired a game-high 28 points and went 6-for-7 from the foul line and scored eight points in the fourth quarter to keep Mobil’s distance with Hyatt. Ruluked also canned eight of his 25 markers in the fourth canto, making up for the absence of the injured Rabauliman.

Jorge De Guzman and Larry Sharry also contributed on Mobil’s cause nailing 14 apiece, while Bart Demapan added 13.

All five double figure scorers for Mobil drained at least five points each in the fourth quarter, helping their team protect its lead in the final canto. Mobil was ahead by only three after the third frame, 69-66, and remained on top with Estolas and Ruluked anchoring the team’s offense in the fourth period.

[B]First Game

Mobil 102[/B] – Estolas 28, Ruluked 25, De Guzman 14, Sharry 14, Demapan 13, Wenceslao 2, Isip 2, Gapor 2.

[B]Hyatt Regency Saipan 93[/B] – Libuw 18, Alipio 17, Arreza 15, Umali 11, Aquino 9, Castro 8, Tumaquip 7, Durant 4, Devero 4.

[B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 22-22, 45-43, 69-66, 102-93.

[B]Second Game

DFS Galleria 94[/B] – Iguel 25, Lizama 23, Jung 17, Barcinas 10, White 7, Chavez 6, Guiab 4.

[B]Grillin’ 80[/B] – Galarse 22, Pagarao 16, Ritual 14, Lerio 13, Hernandez 6, Rotap 4, J. Loste 3. G. Loste 2.

[B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 28-12, 48-27, 69-63, 94-80.