Ghasias Brothers gets first semis win

Ghasias Brothers’ Freddie Pelisamen drives strong to the basket and is fouled by Ali’i’s Raymond Velasco during the third quarter of their game in the semis round of the DLX caging last Monday at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Ghasias Brothers, which took the fourth and final semis seat last weekend, returned to action two days later and boosted its finals chances after downing the erstwhile unbeaten Ali’i. Freddie Pelisamen, who exploded for 54 markers in the knockout game win over the Bandits, 79-78, last Saturday, led Ghasias Brothers anew, as he fired 41 points.

The former CNMI National Team member scored a string off 11 points in the fourth and 16 in that quarter alone, turning a 66-69 deficit at the end of the third period to a 13-point victory. Gyles Ruluked, who missed their playoff match against the Bandits, reported back for duty and supported Pelisamen with his 14 markers. Cat-quick Mike Olaitiman also finished in twin digits with his 12 points.

Ivan Devero paced Ali’i with his 26 points, while Nate Mateo chipped in 18. Mateo banked three early triples to put Ali’i on top by the end of the first period, 23-19.

Favor changed in the second quarter, as this time it was Olaitiman’s turn to hit shots from downtown. He canned two triples and made all his points in the second quarter and Ghasias Brothers got one more triple from Jonathan Pelisamen to take the driver’s seat, 45-39.

The seesaw battle continued in the third with Ali’i reclaiming the upper hand, 69-66, behind the 9 points of Devero, who got a lot of help from his teammates. Four Ali’i players scored at least 4 points each in the third period and combining the 9 markers of Devero they offset the 14 points of Freddie Pelisamen.

Freddie Pelisamen nailed Ghasias Brothers’ last 7 points in the third quarter to keep his team afloat and Ali’i failed to stop him in the fourth, allowing the last semifinalist to earn an upset against the regular season top finisher.

Ghasias Brothers hopes to continue its winning ways today when it faces Flip Top, which also won its first semis match over SSFM, 84-81, last Saturday. The Ghasias Brothers-Flip Top tiff is set for the second game at 8pm, while SSFM and Ali’i duels in the first match at 6:30pm. The four remaining teams will play in a round-robin semifinals with the Top 2 squads marching into the championship.

Ghasias Brothers 94 – F. Pelisamen 41, Ruluked 14, Olaitiman 12, Acosta 8, Ja. Pelisamen 6, B. Pelisamen 4, R. Pelisamen 4, Jo. Pelisamen 3.

Ali’i 81 – Devero 26, Mateo 18, Velasco 11, Peredo 11, Usi 9, Hernandez 4.

Scoring by quarters: 19-23, 45-39, 66-69, 94-81.