Kanoa, CTSI get third win

CTSI’s Chanel Espinosa takes off for a layup in front of two Shirley’s Coffee Shop defenders during the second half of their game in the 2017 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Victory No. 3 came in a handy for CTSI and Kanoa Resort as they posted double-digit winning margin in their respective matches in the 2017 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

In the girls division game, CTSI walloped Shirley’s Coffee Shop, 42-24. CTSI, with its 3-1 record, kept the No. 3 spot in the team standings behind the unbeaten GSM Lady Ol’Aces (5-0) and Fiesta Resort (4-1), while Shirley’s is at the bottom of the rankings in the six-squad field with its dismal 0-5 slate. IT&E (1-3) and Marianas Variety (1-3) complete the group.

In the boys division, Kanoa Resort downed 670 Sonics XVI, 56-46, to improve its mark to 3-1 and join 670 Sonics XVIII and Sun Palace in a tie for second place behind the undefeated M&M Salas Ol’Aces (4-0). 670 Sonics XVI fell to a 1-3 slate, the same record its sister team 670 Sonics XVII holds, while Saipan Vegas Extreme and Saipan Vegas Elite are both winless after three matches.

Anthony Deleon Guerrero, Warren Ellama, and Seok Jun Yun teamed up in lifting Kanoa Resort to the 10-point win as each tallied double figures. Deleon Guerrero and Ellama registered 15 points each, while Yun chipped in 12. Ellama and Deleon Guerrero found their rhythm in the second half, which started with Kanoa ahead by only 6, 29-13. The duo combined for 20 Kanoa Resort’s 27 points in the final 20 minutes of the match, while Yun held the fort for Kanoa in the first half, making 10 of his 12 markers in that period.

In the girls division game, CTSI had only one player scoring in twin digits, however six more contributed at least 4 points each to hand their team the easy win. Mary Kay Alferos led CTSI with her 10 points, while Diane Pablo, Nanaka Watanabe and Jam Alegre added 6 apiece, and Chanel Espinosa and Angie Ito logged 4 each.

With multiple players hitting the board for CTSI, it opened a 22-9 advantage after the first half and never relinquished the double-digit lead in the second.

Shirley’s Coffee Shop failed to mount a comeback and end its losing skid, as only Jeralyn Castillo stepped up for the team, firing a game-high 16 points. Mikky Vargas had 4, but her baskets came when the game was already decided.

Meanwhile, games in the holiday caging will resume today with Saipan Vegas Elite and Saipan Vegas Extreme playing in the first match at 5pm. Other pairings tonight are Marianas Variety vs IT&E at 6pm; Fiesta Resort vs CTSI at 7pm; and 670 Sonics XVIII vs Kanoa Resort at 8pm.

First Game
Kanoa Resort 56 — Deleon Guerrero 15, Ellama 15, Yun 12, Gamab 5, Santos 4, Tenorio 1.
670 Sonics XVI 46 — Contreras 12, Dancel 11, R. Bernardo 8, Chavez 7, B. Bernardo 2, Lagmay 2.
Scoring by halves: 29-23, 56-46.

Second Game
CTSI 42 — Alferos 10, Pablo 6, Watanabe 6, J. Alegre 6, Espinosa 4, Ito 4, Echavez 2, Diaz 2.
Shirley’s 24 — Castillo 16, Vargas 4, Manganti 2, Francisco 2.
Scoring by halves: 22-9, 42-24.