Daniel sweeps regular season

Defending champion Daniel finished the regular season of the 4th Genesis Cup Christian Churches Inter-Color Basketball League with a flawless record.

Daniel players pose for a group photo before their game in the 4th Genesis Cup late last month at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Contributed Photo)

Daniel earned a 7-0 record in the round-robin contest, following an 80-70 victory over Gideon last Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. Gideon fell to a 3-3 record and will play their last game in the regular season against Ezekiel next week.

Angelo Hernaez continued to showcase an MVP award-worthy game for the unbeaten Daniel, as he sizzled for 35 points against Gideon. Three other Daniel players scored in double figures to keep the team’s perfect record. Kagman High School quarterback Andrew Palino chipped in 13, while veteran Dindo Pablo and Reli Del Rio contributed 11 each.

Lawrence Borja led Gideon’s losing cause, as he knocked in 20 markers. Borja’s points were equally distributed with his 10 markers in the first half.

Borja controlled the paint in the first 20 minutes of the contest and with Ambet Omampo and Bradley Demapan combining for 13 of their own, Gideon took a shaky 36-34 lead into the second half. Joel Buniag also contributed in the first half for Gideon, adding 5.

Daniel, on the other hand, relied heavily on Hernaez, who dropped 16 in the first half to keep his team afloat. Four other Daniel players bagged two field goals apiece to trail by only a deuce after the first half.

In the second half, it was all Daniel, as Gideon failed to stop Hernaez from burning the hoop, while Pablo, Palino, and Del Rio also got their offensive game going in the final frame. Palino drilled 9 points in the final half after making only two field goals in the first half, while Pablo and Del Rio registered 7 apiece.

Only Demapan and Borja hit more than three field goals in the second half, as Gideon failed in its bid to stop the unscathed Daniel.

With Daniel keeping its unbeaten slate, the defending champion will be seeded first in the playoffs and will duel the last-ranked squad in the team standings for one of the four semis berths. The battle for the Final Four seats will be held on April 17 and 20, while the semis matches is scheduled for April 24. The winner-take-all finals is slated on April 26.

Meanwhile, Isaiah and Samuel collided in the second game last Monday and results will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Thursday issue.

Daniel 80 – Hernaez 35, Palino 13, Pablo 11, Del Rio 11, Nunez 4, Del Carmen 2.

Gideon 70 – Borja 20, Demapan 14, Buniag 12, Omampo 9, Sablan 7, David 4, Reyes 2, Santos 2.

Scoring by halves: 34-36, 80-70.