Gideon, Isaiah draw first blood

Gideon and Isaiah pulled off close wins in the opening of the 4th Genesis Cup Christian Churches Inter-Color Basketball League last Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Isaiah’s Fred Fatialofa, left, plays tough defense on Jeremiah’s Jay Nunag, who was later called for a traveling violation during the second quarter of their game in the 4th Genesis Cup last Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Isaiah prevailed in the curtain-raiser against Jeremiah, 50-47, while Gideon eked out a similar 3-point victory over Samuel in the second match, 63-60.

It was a come-from-behind triumph for Gideon, which had to climb its way back from a 29-41 halftime deficit.

Lawrence Borja and Bradley Demapan teamed up in Gideon’s recovery, combining for 25 of the team’s 34 points in the final 20 minutes of play. Borja finished with a team-high 25 markers, while Demapan added 17. Joel Buniag chipped in 7 points, Rene Batallones contributed 5, Allan David logged 4, and three others combined for Gideon’s remaining 5 markers.

Jerome Reyes led Samuel’s losing cause with his 25 points. He had an explosive first half, dropping 16 to lift Samuel to the double-digit advantage, but slowed down in the final frame, drilling only 5. Ronnie Guevarra backed Reyes up, tallying 18 with 10 of them coming in their first half domination.

In the first game, Marlo Ibanez and Oliver Gragasin powered Isaiah to its debut win. They scored nearly half of the team’s total points and were the only two players to hit double figures. The lefty Ibanez registered 12 points, while Gragasin logged 10. Nine other Isaiah players made it to the board for Isaiah to provide enough support to Ibanez and Gragasin.

While Gragasin and Ibanez drew help from their teammates, it was a different story for Ramsa Tenepere. The Jeremiah forward almost singlehandedly carried the fight for his team, scoring 23 points. Jay Nunag was the only other Jeremiah player to score more than two baskets for Jeremiah and the rest of the team combined for only 14 points.

Meanwhile, action in the Genesis Cup continued last Monday with Daniel playing Caleb in the first match and Ezekiel dueling Joshua in the second. Results of both games will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Thursday edition.

Games in the Genesis Cup are played every Monday and Friday. This Friday, Gideon will collide with Caleb in the first match at 6pm, while in the second tiff at 8pm, Jeremiah will take on Daniel.

First Game
Isaiah 50– Ibanez 12, Gragasin 10, Brillo 9, Fatialofa 4, Bono 4, Cortez 2, De Leon 2, Vergara 2, Puno 2, Bulaklak 1.

Jeremiah 47 – Tenepere 23, Nunag 9, Cabaoas 4, Castro 4, Daeng 2, Lansangan 2, Lizardo 2.

Scoring by halves: 21-19, 50-47.

Second Game
Gideon 63 – Borja 25, Demapan 17, Buniag 7, Batallones 5, David 4, Santos 2, Palma 2, Reyes 1.

Samuel 60– Reyes 21, Guevarra 18, Calibo 7, Bordon 7, Borja 3, Badal 2, Belgado 2.

Scoring by quarters: 29-41, 63-60.