PIC takes solo lead; Fiesta falls

Pacific Islands Club’s Raymund Tolentino battles Mariana Resort’s Richard Miemban for the rebound during the third quarter of their game in the Inter-Hotel caging last Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

PIC ended the regular season with a 5-1 record for the temporary solo lead against Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, which dropped to a 4-1 record, following a 70-76 loss to Shirley’s Coffee Shop/Century Hotel in the first match. Fiesta was scheduled to face Kanoa Resort last night and a win will move them back to the top spot and drop PIC to second place.

Mariana Resort finished the round-robin regular season winless in six games and with the play PIC played last week there was no way the former could barge into the win column. PIC drew points from every player it fielded in the game and despite its commanding lead at halftime, 52-20, the south side team still opted to pressure Mariana Resort on defense, resulting to the most lopsided win in the season.

PIC built an early 26-10 advantage after the first period behind the eight points of Jack Aranda and the team’s starters. The second and even third stringers of PIC came to play in the last three quarters and kept peppering Mariana Resort with a variety of shots en route to the 64-point win. Four PIC players broke into double figures with Ham Hambros leading the way with his 14 points, Bart Demapan added 13, while James Abuy and Raymund Tolentino chipped in 12 apiece. Six other PIC players combined for 37 points to nearly match the entire output of Mariana Resort.

In the first game, Shirley’s/Century handed Fiesta its first loss in the league.

Shirley’s/Century led from start to finish, withstanding Fiesta’s fourth-quarter rally. Shirley’s/Century was enjoying a 64-41 lead after the third period when Fiesta made an uphill climb behind Lerio Pagarao and Elmer Esdrelon and sliced the deficit to single digit.

However, Rommel Usi stepped up and saved the day for Shirley’s/Century. Usi, who was held to two field goals in the first three periods, scored 10 of Fiesta’s 12 points. He hit two triples and fired the team’s last 10 markers. Josephus Aguilar drilled the two other points.

Sean Rabatos top-scored for Shirley’s/Century with his 20 points while John Jugos chipped in 15. The two hit multiple triples in the first three periods to give Shirley’s/Century a big lead, going into the fourth and final canto.

Meanwhile, the playoff round in the Inter-Hotel league will begin tomorrow. The top finisher gets a bye in the double-elimination playoffs, while the first pairing will have the No. 4 squad meeting the No. 5 team tomorrow in Game 1 at 7:30pm. Game 2, between No. 3 and 6, is also set for tomorrow night at 9pm, while Game 4, between No. 2 and 7, is slated for next Tuesday at 10pm. Game 3, between No. 1 and loser of Game 1, is scheduled for next Tuesday, too at 7:30pm.

Pending the results of the Fiesta-Kanoa game last night, World Resort (4-2) and Shirley’s/Century (4-2) are tied for third and fourth, followed by Hyatt Regency Saipan (2-4), Kanoa Resort (1-4), and Mariana Resort (0-6).

First Game
Shirley’s 76 – Rabasto 20, Jugos 15, Usi 14, Dela Rosa 14, Aguilar 8, Catungal 4, Sedillo 2.

Fiesta 70 – Pagarao 21, Esdrelon 17, Ong 12, Macoto 6, Matsutaro 5.

Scoring by quarters: 28-11, 45-30, 64-41, 76-70.

Second Game
PIC 102 – Hambros 14, Demapan 13, Abuy 12, Tolentino 12, Babauta 8, Bartolo 8, Aranda 8, Del Rosario 7, Quitugua 6, Remillosa 4, Alegre 2, Buchun 2.

Mariana Resort 38 – Capuli 17, Gatdula 9, San Nicolas 5, Sanchez 2, Kapileo 2, Miemban 2.

Scoring by quarters: 26-10, 52-20, 81-23, 102-38.