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Joeten, PSS win in biz caging playoff opener
Joeten Enterprises and the Public School System kicked off their respective title bids on a winning note at the start of the playoff round of the Inter-Commercial Business Basketball League 2015 last Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
Joeten survived IT&E’s gallant stand to score an 84-77 decision, while PSS pulled away early to cruise to an 86-61 win over Saipan Ice in Day 1 of the double-elimination round playoffs.
Dixon Kwon made 8 points in Joeten’s closing 13-8 blitz that helped turn a 68-64 lead midway in the fourth quarter to an 81-70 spread with 2:19 left in the game clock.
Joeten’s Ferdie Tobias, left, and IT&E’s Ian Benavente, center, fight for the rebound during the fourth quarter of their playoff game in the BANMI business caging last Thursday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
IT&E, behind Jason Palacios’ hot shooting, managed to come back in the game after falling behind by double digits most of the first half. They were only down by 1, 58-57, entering the third.
IT&E fell short in their comeback bid and had crucial misses down the stretch that could have helped them win.
Kwon scattered 24 points to lead Joeten’s scoring with playing-coach Alex Lauron contributing 18 points, while Rocyl Ritual had 14 and Y.J. Nakayama added 12 more.
Erol Peredo paced IT&E with 26 markers, while Palacios made 22 and Nate Mateo 18.
In the first game, Marlon Cabrera and Maverick Itibus combined for 43 points as PSS had an easier time dispatching Saipan Ice. Cabrera had 23 points with Itibus providing scoring support with 20, while Preston Basa, PSS’ scoring leader, finished with 14.
Only three players from Saipan Ice scored with Patrick Rotap finishing with 28 points. Treat Kaipat chipped in 22, while John Santy had 11 markers.
Pacific Islands Club Saipan and Fiesta Resort Saipan are the other teams that made it to the playoffs round.
First Game
PSS 86 – Cabrera 23, Itibus 20, Basa 14, Caro 9, Villacrusis 9, Winkfield 5, Coldeen 2, Diaz 2, Villagomez 2.
Saipan Ice 61 – Rotap 28, Kaipat 22, Santy 11.
Scoring by quarters: 26-15, 51-34. 70-47, 86-61.
Second Game
Joeten 84 – Kwon 24 Lauron 18, Ritual 14, Nakayama 12, Sablan 6, Sambile 3, Tobias 3, Alfonso 2, Borja 2.
IT&E 77 – Peredo 26, Palacios 22, Mateo 18, Sangalang 5, Aglipay 2, Benavente 2, Renguul 2.
Scoring by quarters: 18-13, 40-27, 58-57, 84-77.
