Shirley’s, PIC arrange title showdown

John Jugos of Shirley’s-Century Hotel slips past the defense of World Resort’s Juanito Timzon in their game in the 2014 Budweiser Inter-hotel Basketball League Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Jon Perez)

Shirley’s banked on John Jugos’ game-long brilliance in turning back Saipan World Resort, 72-65, while Jack Aranda led PIC’s balanced scoring attack in completing an 89-55 demolition of regular season top seed Fiesta Resort.

Jugos joined hands with Erick Dela Rosa and Shaun Rabasto in the opening period to give Shirley’s a 26-18 lead but Jomar Danas and Dennis Vinas combined to score all of World Resort’s points in the second quarter to keep the game close, 36-34, at the turn.

Danas continued with his hot shooting in the third making 6 of his team’s points in a 9-0 run to take a 45-36 spread with barely four minutes gone in the clock.

But Shirley’s countered with its own scoring blitz, a 16-5 exchange to take a slim 52-50 lead entering the final canto.

Jugos, Dela Rosa, and Rommel Usi then alternated in draining crucial baskets for Shirley’s to complete the hard-earned win.

Jugos collected 18 points to lead Shirley’s to victory, while Dela Rosa and Usi chipped in 14 and 10 markers apiece.

Danas paced World Resort with 22 markers, Eugene Manglona and Vinas combined for 28 points, while John Lewis made 10 more.

Shirley’s will be facing a tall order when it goes up against PIC, an 89-55 conqueror of Fiesta Resort in the second game, since the latter enjoys a twice-to-beat incentive in the finals after going undefeated in the playoff round.

PIC, with the core of Saipan Southern High School leading the attack, pulled away early to enjoy a 44-29 halftime lead then poured it on in the third where they also held Fiesta to 9 points for a 66-38 advantage entering the fourth period.

PIC was never threatened with Fiesta Resort hardly putting up a fight.

Eleven of the 12 players that coach Noel Verder fielded in for PIC scored in the game with Jack Aranda tallying 20 points, while James Abuy, Bryl Alegre, and former Aqua Resort big man Darwin Barbo scored 12 points each.

D-Jay Ong paced Fiesta’s losing cause with 21 points, while Lerio Pagarao added 17 markers.

The finals begin Thursday night and if Shirley’s can pull off an upset, a knock-out match will be played next Tuesday.

First Game
Shirley’s-Century Hotel 72 – Jugos 18, Dela Rosa 14, Usi 10, Rabasto 9, Catungal 7, Aguilar 6, Drilon 4, Sedillo 4.

World Resort 65 – Danas 22, Manglona 15, Vinas 13, Lewis 10, Bernardo 3, Tiamzon 2.

Scoring by quarters: 26-18, 36-34, 52-50, 72-65.

Second Game
PIC 89 – Aranda 20, Abuy 12, Alegre 12, Barbo 12, Babauta 9, Hambros 6, Quitugua 6, Bartolo 4, Tolentino 4, Buchun 2, Remillosa 2.

Fiesta Resort 55 – Ong 21, Pagarao 17, Esdrelon 6, Quizon 5, Matsutaro 4, Lavarias 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-12, 44-29, 66-38, 89-55. (Jon Perez)