Sonics hand Dream Team first defeat

The 670 Sonics snapped Dream Team’s winning run after recording a 69-59 victory in the first boys U19 division game in the 2014 Tan Holdings Basketball Classic last Thursday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Jack Aranda led the Sonics’ 10-point win over Dream Team after scoring 26 points. Aranda gave the Sonics their second win in four games and handed Dream Team its first loss after four matches.

The Sonics guard showed consistency on offense all night and drew support from Jaymark De Guzman and Emerson Feria to help their team bounce back from a 62-70 loss to division leader Rollers 1 at the start of the new year.

The 670 Sonics’ Bryle Alegre pulls up for a jumper against the Ol’Aces’ Tristan Montes during an earlier game in the boys U19 division of the 2014 Tan Holdings Badminton Classic at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

De Guzman chipped in 15 points, while Feria contributed 13. De Guzman teamed up with Aranda in the first half, as they combined for 22 points for the Sonics’ 31-23 advantage. Aranda ended the first 20 minutes of play with successive baskets, as he drilled 6 straight points in the closing minutes.

The Saipan Southern High School standout then nailed the Sonics’ first field goal in the second half, making a triple, while Feria began hitting his mark in that period after being held to 3 points off one field goal and a free throw in the first half.

With Aranda still on fire and Feria and De Guzman backing him up, the Sonics foiled Dream Team’s repeated comeback bids in the second half.

Dream Team failed to overhaul the deficit in the second half, as only Shane De Leon Guerrero and Ignacio Borja poured in points for the squad and help came in late. Deleon Guerrero top-scored for Dream Team with his 15 markers, while Borja added 14.

In the second game, Rollers 1 pounded Sun Palace, 77-31.

Rollers 1 improved its record to 3-0 and gained the top spot in the eight-team field after Dream Team fell to the Sonics. Sun Palace is at the bottom half of the team standings with its 0-3 slate.

Rollers 1’s firepower was simply superior against the hapless Sun Palace. Three Rollers 1 players broke into double figures with Prince Factor’s 14 points, Irvin Malonzo’s 13, and Mike Espinosa’s 11 enough to outgun the entire Sun Palace crew. Seven other players made it to the board for Rollers 1.

John Capuyon Jr. and Ankie Manalili led Sun Palace’s losing cause, as they tallied 9 points apiece, while Johnn Benevante was only the third Sun Palace player to drill more than one basket.

Meanwhile, results of last Friday’s U19 matches will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Wednesday edition.

First Game

Sonics 69–Aranda 26, De Guzman 12, Feria 13, Flores 6, Manzano 5.

Dream Team 59–S. Deleon Guerrero, I. Borja 14, Kwon 8, Francisco 7, E. Borja 6, Sanchez 4, Darag 4.

Scoring by halves: 31-23, 69-59.

Second Game

Rollers 1 77–Factor 14, Malonzo 13, Espinosa 11, Arciaga 8, Mendoza 5, Iglecias 5, De leon 4, Cayading 4, Fidelino 3, Vivero 2.

Sun Palace 31–Capuyon 9, Manalili 9, Benavente 5, Gabaldon 3, Pangelinan 2, Ocaya 1.

Scoring by halves: 44-13, 77-31.