Armatech takes solo lead; IT&E, Shirley’s crush foes

Armatech gained the solo lead in in the women’s division of the 2014 Tan Holdings Basketball Classic, while Shirley’s Coffee Shop and IT&E posted lopsided wins last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Armatech prevailed in the battle of unbeaten squad, downing Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan in the first game, 49-40, to improve its record to 3-0 and take the No. 1 spot in the team standings.

Irish Pagarao towed Armatech to its third victory in as many games, scoring 17 points, while Rachel Abrams and Chevy Kate Alipio backed her up, adding 10 and 8, respectively. Pagarao and company led from start to finish, keeping its safe distance against Fiesta to hand the latter its first loss in three matches.

Jahnelle Francisco and Friendly Joy Pena paced Fiesta, firing 14 markers apiece.

In the second game, Shirley’s got twin digits from three players en route to a 52-16 spanking of Sun Palace Hotel.

Shirley’s Coffee Shop’s Jeraldine Castillo dribbles past a Sun Palace Hotel defender during the second half of their game in the women’s division of the 2014 Tan Holdings Basketball Classic last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Dianne Pablo was among the double-figure scorer for Shirley’s, nailing 12, just 4 points short of Sun Palace’s total output. Alexa Vergara and Negahr Rastguiy chipped in 10 apiece, while six other Shirley’s players made it to the board for the team’s balance scoring.

While Shirley’s drew points from a lot of players, it was a different story for the hapless Sun Palace, which got baskets only from four players. Ljay Francisco led Sun Palace with her 6 markers, Maria Dalusong and Shaina Abadilla had 4 apiece, and Pauline Villanueva contributed 2.

With Shirley’s firepower too much for Sun Palace, the former raced to a 28-8 halftime lead and was never threatened from thereon, handing the latter its third loss in as many matches.

In the third game, IT&E barged into the win column after two futile attempts, following a 46-23 triumph over Kanoa Resort (1-2).

Jan Travilla suited up for IT&E for the first time and provided enough support to main gunner Kyla Ito in their 23-point winning margin against Kanoa Resort. Ito had a game-high 14 points, while Travilla chipped in 10. Five other IT&E players combined for 22 more points as they nearly matched the production of the entire Kanoa Resort crew.

Kanoa, which was still in contention after the first half, 15-21, fell apart in the second, drilling only 8 points behind its three field goals. Kanoa had 10 players for the match, but only three scored with Natasha Ngairausui logging 9 and Rose Jones and Kelsey Lizama registering 8 and 6 markers, respectively.

First Game

Armatech 49–Pagarao 17, Abrams 10, Alipio 8, Javier 4, Yiu 4, Mettao 2, Pangilinan 2, Alferos 2

Fiesta Resort 40–Francisco 14, Pena 14, Reyes 5, Lee 4, Ada 3.

Scoring by halves: 23-14, 49-40.

Second Game

Shirley’s 52–Pablo 12, Vergara 10, Rastguiy 10, Castillo 6, Santiago 4, Echavez 4, Enriquez 2, Ito 2, Abantao 2.

Sun Palace 16–Francisco 6, Dalusong 4, Abadilla 4, Villanueva 2.

Scoring by halves: 28-8, 52-16.

Third Game

IT&E 46–Ito 14, Travilla 10, Villagomez 8, Alegre 6, Reyes 4, Flores 2, Manibusan 2.

Kanoa Resort 23–Ngirausui 9, Jones 8, Lizama 6.

Scoring by halves: 21-15, 46-23.