PIC, MJD gain semis slots

Pacific Islands Club’s Emerson Feria, left, blocks the shot of CHCC’s Leo Galarse during the first quarter of their playoff game in the inter-government/business caging last Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Pacific Islands Club and MJD Enterprises booked the first two semis tickets in the 2016 IT&E Inter-Government/Business Basketball League after beating their respective playoff foes in contrasting fashions last Wednesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

MJD routed Northern Marianas Sports Association in the second quarterfinal match, 104-82, while PIC rallied past CHCC in the first game, 77-71, behind its 3-point shooting and solid game from its young guns in the second half.

PIC took the win and the first semis berth that goes with it despite falling behind by as much as 15, 37-22 in the second quarter, which ended with CHCC still ahead by double figures, 40-28. CHCC threatened to pull away after launching a 13-2 scoring run midway in the second frame, turning a 24-20 advantage to a twin digit lead.

However, CHCC failed to carry its momentum in the third period, while PIC recovered and even stole the driver’s seat, 54-53, going into the final quarter. Sean Rabasto anchored PIC’s rally, making 13 straight points in the third frame, including three triples. PIC drilled six triples in the crucial third canto with Mike Arciaga knocking in back-to-back to end the team’s scoring.

Jack Aranda then opened the fourth with his own shot from beyond the arc and canned one more midway in the final quarter to keep PIC ahead. Michael Espinosa also hit a triple late in the match and had a string of 5 points, while PIC finished off CHCC from the foul line, nailing five charities—two each from Rabasto and Darwin Barbo and a split from Espinosa.

Rabasto paced PIC with his 22 points, while Arciaga had 14, and Espinosa, and Aranda added 13 and 12, respectively. Peter Mendiola led CHCC with his 16 points.

In the second game, MJD saved the best for last for the 22-point winning margin.

MJD was ahead by only a hair at the end of the third, 67-66, but managed to pull away in the fourth when Douglas Schmidt, Dan Barcinas, and Matt Dueans teamed up for 28 of the team’s 37 points.

Schmidt ended up with 40 markers, while Duenas and Barcinas had 21 and 17, respectively. Preston Basa logged 25 for NMSA.

With the victory, MJD will face the winner of the IT&E-T Galleria tiff in the semis on Monday at 6:30pm. PIC and the victor of DFEMS-BSI tiff will collide in the other semis pairing also this Monday.

First Game
PIC 77— Rabasto 22, Arciaga 14, Espinosa 13, Aranda 12, Barbo 6, Eroch 4, Castro 4, Flores 2.
CHCC 71 — P. Mendiola 16, Johnson 12, Iramk 11, Galarse 8, Flores 6, Raho 6, Ogumoro 6, Ajoste 6, Camacho 2.
Scoring by quarters: 11-8, 28-40, 54-53, 77-71.

Second Game
MJD 104 — Schmidt 40, Duenas 21, Barcinas 17, Lizama 12, Quan 3, Rosario 2.
NMSA 82 — Basa 25, P. Camacho 13, Nakashima 12, Iguel 11, Caro 10, Villacrusis 5.
Scoring by quarters: 21-20, 52-46, 67-66, 104-82.