MDX, Bayani dominate U20 foes

MDX/Mariana Resort took the early lead in the U20 division of the 2012 UFO Docomo Pacific Cup, while Bayani/DYS had a rousing debut last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

MDX whipped Boholano/AON in the last game in the U20 division, 81-67, to improve to a 2-0 record, while Bayani routed SIP/Barney’s in the third match, 83-62.

Bayani/DYS, which is composed of the CNMI U17 Team 1 that played in last month’s Micronesian Basketball Tournament, showed cohesion on the floor to hand SIP its second loss in as many games, getting away with several fastbreak layups and other easy baskets off extra passes in the second half en route to a 21-point victory.

The Bayani lead was only pegged at six points at the break, 37-31, but ballooned to 12 at the end of the third, 56-44, as SIP failed to contain the former’s good ball movement and Alegre. Alegre drilled seven of his 17 points in the third, while four other Bayani players also scored for their twin-digit lead, entering the final canto.

Jaymark De Guzman picked up where Alegre left off, making Bayani’s first six points and six more later in the fourth for the easy victory. De Guzman led all scorers with his 18, while Chris Mizer and Nevin Salem also finished in double figures with 11 and 10, respectively. Jack Aranda and Josephus Aguilar added eight apiece in Bayani’s balance offense.

Three SIP players—Michael Moran, Sheen Metran, and Lester Vertudez—broke into double figures, but their baskets came when the game was already decided.

In the fourth and final game of the day, the experienced crew of MDX dominated the young guns of Boholano, which is composed of CNMI U17 Team 2 players.

Only seven players suited up for MDX, but four of them combined for 65 points, just two points short of Boholano’s total production. Eugene Manglona tallied 19, Frank Mettao and Melvin Cadiang fired 18 apiece, and Adrian Palacios nailed 10.

Tyler Palacios paced the debuting Boholano with his 13 points. Tyler Palacios and company stayed afloat only in the first period, as MDX was up by only eight, 21-13. Then a 22-10 scoring in the third turned MDX’s 38-25 halftime lead to a big 60-35 advantage.

Bayani/DYS 83 – De Guzman 18, Alegre 17, Mizer 11, Salem 10, Aguilar 8, Aranda 8, Mariano 4.

SIP/Barney’s 62 – Moran 12, Vertudez 10, Metran 10, Sacramento 8, Dela Rosa 8, Devero 5, Darag 5, Maranan 2, Salas 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-15, 37-31, 56-44, 83-62.

MDX/Mariana Resort 81 – Manglona 19, Cadiang 18, Mettao 18, Palacios 10, Caro 8, Deleon Guerrero 4.

Boholano/AON 67—Palacios 13, Sanarez 10, Javier 10, Deleon 8, Lapuz 8, Regis 8, Mendoza 6, Villagomez 2, Escalada 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-13, 38-25, 60-35, 81-67.