Saipan Ice outlasts Chinatown for third win

Saipan Ice & Water thwarted Chinatown Saints, 66-60, in a make-up game in the 2nd DL Corp. Invitational Basketball League last Saturday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Ray Saralu hit two clutch baskets, while Derrick Rangamar converted a pair of free throws to help Saipan Ice slip past Chinatown at the resumption of their rained-out match. Saipan Ice now has a 3-2 record in Pool A, moving up from fourth to second place in the team standings behind Docomo Pacific (4-1).

Chinatown finished the regular season with a 3-4 record and must wait for the remaining games in its group to determine its playoff chances. The Top 2 teams in Pool A will gain outright quarterfinals berth, while the next four will fight for the remaining two spots, and the last two will be booted out of the tournament. Pending results of last night’s games, teams in Pool A are in a tight race with NMI Contractor having a 3-4 card, Fong’s Bakery holding a 2-2 slate, and Adobo, Fliptop, and Kixx Engine Oil sporting similar 2-3 records.

The Saipan Ice-Saints tiff, which was first played last Oct. 5, resumed at the 3:26 mark of the fourth quarter with the former in possession and the game tied at 56-all after the latter launched a short 6-0 run. However, Chinatown was off and without some of its key players at the resumption of the game, leaving Shane Deleon Guerrer as the only scorer for the Saints. He made two quick two field goals for Chinatown, but Rangamar countered with a field goal and two important charities to force a standoff.

Then Saralu stepped up next with a pair of baskets, while Rangamar went on to seal the win with his two charities.

The 6-point win saved Saipan Ice from a big meltdown, as it wasted a 15-point halftime lead, 39-24, after going scoreless in the first five minutes of the third period. Chinatown, on the other hand, drilled 14 straight points to mount a comeback and even took the lead early in the fourth, 50-47, before collapsing in overtime.

Meanwhile, Saipan Ice played against Adobo in another make-up game last Saturday, but the match was rained-out early in the first quarter.

Saipan Ice 66 – Rangamar 20, Camacho 13, Kaipat 8, Saralu 8, Rivera 4, Cayading 4, Villanueva 2.
Chinatown 60 – Sacramento 22, Lizama 7, Zapanta 6, Guerrero 4, Iglecias 3, Quizon 2, Fleming 2.
Scoring by quarters: 20-11, 39-24, 47-47, 60-60, 66-60.