Saipan Apparel outlasts GMI Market in overtime

Saipan Apparel’s Jerome Norita pulls up for a jumper against Duenas Compound’s Douglas Schmidt during the fourth quarter of their game in the MIBF outdoor caging last Monday at the San Antonio court. Norita scored 2 of Saipan Apparel’s last 5 points in their 66-64 overtime win against GMI Market last Friday. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Saipan Apparel eked out 66-64 win in overtime against GMI Market in the curtain-raiser in the Mariana Islands Basketball Federation’s Inaugural Men’s Outdoor League last Friday night at the San Antonio court.

Josh Andrew knocked in the go-ahead basket inside the paint for Saipan Apparel in the extension period, while Jerome Norita and Jay Sumile scored the 3 other points for the winning squad. Saipan Apparel now has a 3-1 record, bouncing back from its 64-75 loss to Duenas Compound last Monday. GMI Market continued its roller-coaster ride, dropping to a 2-3 mark.

Saipan Apparel needed extra five minutes to bag its third victory as it failed to pull away against GMI Market, which brought the match in overtime off Jun Fidelino’s pair of free throws.

It led by only 3 at the end of the first period behind the combined 13 points of Kelvin Fitial and Norita. Prince Factor and Paul Doseo, on the other hand, teamed up with 10 markers to keep GMI Market afloat after the first 10 minutes of play.

In the next 10 minutes, the match remained close with Saipan Apparel up by only 5, 31-26. Six different players scored for Saipan Apparel, while only four made it to the board for GMI Market.

GMI Market then trimmed the deficit down to 3 markers anew by the end of the third period, 42-45, as Fidelino nailed 6 of their last 8 points in that canto after going scoreless in the second. Saipan Apparel failed to widen the gap in the third frame, as only Fitial canned more than one field goal for his team.

Aside Fidelino, GMI Market also leaned on Prince Factor and Doseo in the early part of the fourth quarter to stay in contention, while Saipan Apparel muffed an opportunity to wrap up the match in regulation due to its free throw woes. Saipan Apparel went 2-for-4 from the stripe in the closing seconds with Syl Teregeyo and Jerry Diaz splitting their charities.

Fidelino, on the other hand, went perfect in his last trip to the 15-foot line to force the deadlock after 40 minutes of play. However, Fidelino and company fell short in the end, while Andrew came to Saipan Apparel’s rescue with his point-blanked shot.

Saipan Apparel 66 — Fitial 17, Norita 12, Lisua 11, Andrew 7, E. Diaz 4, J. Diaz 4, Teregeyo 3, Lizama 2, Sumile 1.

GMI Market 64 — P. Factor 15, Doseo 13, Fidelino 11, Tolosa 6, Alipio 6, A. Factor 5, Senupe 4, Sison 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-13, 31-26, 45-42, 61-61, 66-65 (OT).