Ol’Aces, Junior Ol’Aces prevail

The Junior Ol’Aces’ Jeffrey Castro drives baseline against the Chinese Association’s Xuankun Li during the fourth quarter of their game in the MIBF caging last Wednesday night at the San Antonio court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Ol’Aces and Junior Ol’Aces earned contrasting wins in the Mariana Islands Basketball Federation’s Inaugural Men’s Outdoor League last Wednesday night at the San Antonio court.

The Ol’Aces outlasted Duenas Compound, 81-77, in the battle of undefeated teams in the curtain raiser, while the Junior Ol’Aces crushed the Chinese Association, 107-34, in the second match.

With their victory, the Ol’Aces are now the only unbeaten squad in the nine-team field as they moved up to a 4-0 record. Duenas Compound dropped to a 4-1 card for second place in the team standings. The Junior Ol’Aces, on the other hand, improved to an even 2-2 mark and are in the middle of the leaderboard, while the Chinese Association are at the bottom with its 0-4 record.

The Ol’Aces squandered a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, but managed to escape with the 4-point win after hitting crucial free throws in the homestretch. The Ol’Aces, who led by 15 at the end of the third canto, 60-45, scored 5 of their last 7 markers from the foul line. Freddie Pelisamen made three charities, while Jack Lizama knocked in a pair of insurance free throws. Lizama also drilled the Ol’Aces’ lone field goal in the closing seconds of the match.

Both Pelisamen and Lizama finished the game in double figures with the latter tallying 14 and the former adding 12. Dan Barcinas led the Ol’Aces with his 15 points.

Matt Duenas paced Duenas Compound with his 20 markers, but was held to 4 points in the fourth canto as they failed to complete their comeback bid. Ernest Duenas and Perry Inos combined for 31 markers with the latter registering 9 of his total output in the final frame to lead Duenas Compound’s recovery. Douglas Schmidt also logged twin digits with his 12 markers, but struggled in the first three quarters, which the Ol’Aces dominated.

Duenas Compound’s loss to the Ol’Aces came just a few days after the former got its fourth win following an 83-80 triumph over 5-Star Construction (2-3).

Matt Duenas exploded for 31 points in the victory, including 8 of his team’s last 12 points. Schmidt chipped in 21. Jeff Munar had 23 for 5-Star Construction, which drew 18 markers from Michael Cabanas.

Meanwhile, in the second game last Wednesday, the Junior Ol’Aces snapped their two-game losing skid after whipping the depleted Chinese Association.

The Junior Ol’Aces had the win in the bag right at the end of the third period as they led by 53 points, 77-24. The Chinese Association fielded only seven players in the game and could not keep up with the young crew of the Junior Ol’Aces.

Wednesday Game
Ol’Aces 81— Barcinas 15, Lizama 14, Pelisamen 12, Santos 9, Iguel 9, Libuw 4, Deleon Guerrero 3, Nakashima 2.

Duenas Compound 77 — Matt Duenas 20, E. Duenas 17, Inos 14, Schmidt 12, Santos 2, Mostales 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-17, 41-28, 60-45, 81-77.

Monday Game
Duenas Compound 83 — Matt Duenas 31, Schmidt 21, E. Duenas 9, Inos 7, Manny Duenas 3, Eubanks 2, Santos 2, Del Rosario 2, R. Duenas 2.

5-Star Construction 80 — Munar 23, Cabanas 18, Fernando 12, Hernaez 8, Pineda 6, Pangelinan 3.

Scoring by quarters: 31-11, 47-36, 71-61, 83-80.