Degree gets first win; Blue Haus keeps streak

Players of Degree pose for a photo during the opening ceremony for the Emon Lodge-Pacific Cup caging last month at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Contributed Photo)

Degree edged I Love Saipan in the second game, 80-78, to notch its first win after a 0-5 start, while Blue Haus dominated PIC Chefs in the curtain raiser, 89-76, to keep a flawless record (5-0).

Alex Ocampo helped Degree snap its five-game losing skid after scoring a team-high 25 points, including the crucial two baskets down the stretch. He had 12 points in the fourth quarter, which started with Degree behind, 56-60.

The shooting forward began the fourth with back-to-back field goals and got two more midway in the period before capping his heroics with Degree’s last two baskets in the match. He and big man Bobby Geli hit timely baskets to help Degree escape past the winless I Love Saipan (0-5). Geli added 17 points, six of them came in the fourth and four of Degree’s last 10 markers.

I Love Saipan lost the close match despite taking an early lead, 22-14, after the first canto. Dave Demapan, Junior Renguul, and Elias Rangamar scored six points each in the first period to give I Love Saipan the eight-point advantage. However, Degree launched a 29-12 scoring binge in the second frame to grab the driver’ seat, 43-34. Geli and Ocampo teamed up in the second-quarter recovery, firing eight points apiece.

Favor switched anew in the third with I Love Saipan reclaiming the upper hand, 60-56, thanks to the eight markers each of Renguul and Ruben Sahagun. In the fourth quarter, the game remained tight with Degree having the edge in the end behind the good shooting night of Ocampo.

Meanwhile, in the first match, Blue Haus was on target right at the get-go to down PIC Chefs. Edsel Mendoza anchored Blue Haus’ strong start, firing 10 points for their 26-12 advantage. He added eight more points, as Blue Haus stretched the lead to 15, 43-28. PIC Chefs never made a headway in the second half, allowing Blue Haus to cruise to its fifth win in as many games and move one victory away from sweeping the round-robin league.

First Game
Blue Haus 89 – Mendoza 34, Moises 21, Fernandez 13, Guiab 8, Santos 4, F. Palacios 4, Manabat 3.

PIC Chefs 76 – J. Tabora 34, Sublemente 14, Catacutan 10, Lunaogo 10, Guzman 8.

Scoring by quarters: 26-12, 43-28, 66-53, 89-76.

Second Game
Degree 80 – Ocampo 25, Geli 17, Surima 16, Sampang 11, Miday 8.

I Love Saipan 78 – Renguul 30, Demapan 12, Villasan 12, Rangamar 12, Sahagun 8, Olopai 2, Ruluked 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-22, 43-34, 56-60, 80-78.