PSS hands McDonald’s third straight loss

Posted on Oct 24 2014

Tag: Commonwealth Utilities Corp, Deleon Guerrero, PSS, Public School System

Three Public School System defenders swarm McDonald’s Mike Achas during the third quarter of their game in the JP World caging last Wednesday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Public School System added to McDonald’s woes, following a 78-58 win in the second game in the

2014 JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League last Wednesday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

PSS improved to a 4-2 record and secured its third straight win, while McDonald’s got its third consecutive setback after a 3-0 start.

Preston Basa top-scored for PSS with his 21 markers despite missing the closing minutes of the third and the entire fourth quarter due to a scary fall. He stepped on the foot of a McDonald’s player as they jockeyed for position in the paint and was down on the floor for about 10 minutes, grimacing in pain. He eventually stood up and returned to their bench with PSS on top, 52-42, 2:37 left on the clock.

Basa and company took the double-digit lead after McDonald’s moved within one, 40-41. McDonald’s launched a 12-3 run bridging the closing minutes of the second period and the first two minutes of the third to threaten PSS.

However, Basa, who scored a triple in that exchange, hit two more treys before he got injured to anchor an 11-2 scoring surge and give PSS more cushion. PSS went on to end the third period with a 60-47 advantage and kept going in the fourth quarter despite the absence of Basa as other members of the team stepped up to maintain their safe distance.

Joe Villacrusis was one of them, adding 16 points, while four other PSS players contributed at least 5 markers apiece.

Michael Achas paced McDonald’s with his 14 points, while McLain Achas chipped in 13.

In the first game, Saipan Ice & Water eked out an 86-84 win over Top Development , Inc.

Saipan Ice now has a 2-3 record to stay in contention for the playoffs, while TDI has yet to win a game after five matches and is in danger of getting eliminated in the nine-team league. Only the Top 6 teams will advance to the playoffs with the Top 2 moving automatically to the semis and the other four battling for the two remaining Final Four seats. Saipan Ice is in a tie for sixth place with Commonwealth Utilities Corp.

First Game
Saipan Ice 86 – Kaipat 17, Villanueva 17, Kewlani 17, Cayading 12, Santy 7, Pangelinan 6, Norita 2.

TDI 84 – Velasco 38, Reyes 28, Lorenzo 8, Arreza 4, Lumayag 2, Barros 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-25, 55-44, 59-67, 86-84.

Second Game
PSS 78 – Basa 21, Villacrusis 16, Loste 9, Mendez 6, Manibusan 6, Villagomez 5, Santos 3, Diaz 2.

McDonald’s 58 – Mi. Achas 14, Mc. Achas 13, Quemado 8, Gapor 8, Cruz 6, Masga 5, Deleon Guerrero.

Scoring by quarters: 22-10, 36-30, 60-47, 78-58.

Roselyn Monroyo | Reporter

Roselyn Monroyo is the sports reporter of Saipan Tribune. She has been covering sports competitions for more than two decades. She is a basketball fan and learned to write baseball and football stories when she came to Saipan in 2005.

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