Ol’Aces outgun foes in Lib Day caging

The Ol’Aces’ guns were blazing last week as they won their first two games in the Open division of the 2015 Liberation Day Basketball Tournament at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Jack Lizama and Dan Barcinas sizzled for 20-plus points in the Ol’Aces’ opening match to lift the team to a 91-81 victory over the Rollers last Thursday.

Barcinas led the Ol’Aces with his 28 points, 11 of them coming in the fourth quarter, as he anchored the team’s recovery from a 59-63 deficit at the end of the third period. Lizama added 26 and also contributed in the fourth quarter, chipping in 8.

The Ol’Aces needed solid games from Lizama and Barcinas, as the team’s main gunner Preston Basa was held to 8 points. Basa got off to a good start, knocking in two triples in the opening canto, but the Rollers clung to a one-point cushion after the first 10 minutes of play, thanks to Jethro Cruz’s basket.

The Rollers hung on to the driver’s seat in the next two periods, 42-39, and 63-59, with Cruz getting help from Dalton King, and C.J. Quon. However, the Rollers failed to keep their momentum in the payoff canto as Barcinas took over and saved the day for the Ol’Aces.

After an impressive first game, Barcinas came out flat in their second assignment last Friday, but the Ol’Aces still won against the Rebels, 99-91, with Lizama this time teaming up with Basa.

Basa exploded for 33 points, as he drilled one triple after another. Lizama backed him up, contributing 26 markers.

Basa made 11 shots from beyond the arc, capping his hot shooting night with five triples in the fourth quarter. He buried two of the Ol’Aces’ first three triples, which also served as the team’s first three field goals, for a 19-13 advantage.

The Ol’Aces added four more treys in the second—two coming from Jun Iguel and one each from Basa and Ezra Caro—but the Rebels stole the lead, 36-34, behind the 10 points of Mike Arciaga. The Ol’Aces then regained the upper hand, 63-62, as Basa converted two more shots from downtown and three of his teammates added one each. The Ol’Aces never relinquished the lead from thereon, as Basa continued to hit his target.

Meanwhile, the Rebels earned a 1-1 record in the first two days of the tournament after downing the Junior Ol’Aces, 95-89.

Y.J. Nakayama paced the Rebels with his 22 points, while three of his teammates also finished in twin digits for the easy win last Thursday. Prince Factor tallied 17, while Kelvin Fitial and Arciaga registered 16 and 15 markers, respectively.

Only four teams are entered in the Open division of the Lib Day caging after the withdrawal from Andersen Bombers, who could not make the trip to Saipan due to flight unavailability.

Action in the Open division along with games in the Junior category may resume tomorrow, weather permitting. Last Saturday and Sunday’s matches were cancelled due to Typhoon Cham-Hom.