Close win for 670 Sonics XVI

The 670 Sonics XVI’s Aldrin Gio Dancel drives against Saipan Vegas Extreme’s Francisco Mizutani during the second half of their game in the 2017 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament last Wednesday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The 670 Sonics XVI survived Saipan Vegas Extreme’s hot shooting from the 3-point area to eke out a 62-61 victory in the boys division game in the 2017 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament last Wednesday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

The win was the 670 Sonics XVI’s second after five matches, while Saipan Vegas Extreme dropped its fifth in as many games.

The 670 Sonics VXI hung on to its precarious lead in the closing seconds of their tiff, using the clock to its advantage after Saipan Vegas Extreme threatened the former following Steve King’s triple. King hit the shot from downtown after the 670 Sonics VXI turned the ball over. After the error and with nine seconds left on the clock, Saipan Vegas Extreme sued for time and when the game resumed, King knocked the basket in that cut the lead to one, three seconds remaining in the match. The 670 Sonics VXI then made a quick inbound and melted the clock, avoiding contact with Saipan Vegas Extreme players, who were ready to give up preemptive fouls, but ran out of time, allowing the former to escape with the win.

Aldrin Gio Dancel had 17 points to pace the 670 Sonics XVI, which along with other members and officials of the 670 Sonics Basketball Association will be having a pizza night fundraiser at Pizza Hut Restaurant on Jan. 16 from 11am to 10pm. Ronald Bernardo and Joshua Chavez also finished in twin digits for the 670 Sonics XVI with 14 and 10, respectively. King led all scorers with his 30 markers and had seven of his team’s 12 triples.

In the other boys division game, M&M Salas Ol’Aces eased past Saipan Vegas Elite, 64-46, to remain undefeated in five matches.

M&M Salas Ol’Aces led right from the get-go, giving Saipan Vegas Elite no chance to pull off an upset. All the 11 players that suited up for the winning team scored with Coby Santos sleading the way with his 10 markers. Duncan Laxa also had 10 points for Saipan Vegas Elite, which fell to a 1-4 mark to stay at the bottom half of the team standings in the eight-squad field.

Meanwhile, in the women’s division, both GSM Lady Ol’Aces and Marianas Variety recorded easy wins.

The GSM Lady Ol’Aces downed IT&E, 51-40, to improve to a 6-0 and remain on top of the team rankings. Marianas Variety, on the other hand, earned a 3-3 mark following a 44-13 demolition of winless Shirley’s Coffee Shop (0-6).

Anna Lei Santos powered the Lady Ol’Aces to its sixth win in as many games after firing 13 points. Four of her teammates contributed at least 4 points each for the Lady Ol’Aces’ balances offense. In contrast, Jeraldine Castillo carried most of the load for IT&E as she tallied 24 points.

In the Marianas Variety-Shirley’s Coffee Shop tiff, the former held the latter to one field goal in the first half en route to its lopsided win.

Jeralyn Castillo made the lone field goal (triple) for the hapless Shirley’s in the first half, while five players combined for 20 points for Marianas Variety in that period. With Shirley’s still relying on Castillo in the second half, Marianas Variety was still in full control and took back-to-back wins after dropping three straight games.

First Game
M&M Salas Ol’Aces 64 — Santos 10, Siech 9, Sacdalan 8, Atan 8, Blake 6, Bondoc 4, Kabiriel 3, Peter 3, Ichihara 2, Manalo 2, Abejo.
Saipan Vegas Elite 46 — Laxa 10, Ogasawara 7, Pangelinan 6, Elchico 4, Mungwaath 4, Olopai 4, Soriano 3, T. Quitugua 2.
Scoring by halves: 23-12, 64-46.

Second Game
GSM Lady Ol’Aces 51 — An. Santos 13, Fernandez 9, E. Santos 8, Kenty 6, C. Camacho 4, S. Camacho 4, Pangelinan 3, Rangamar 2.
IT&E 40 — Jeraldine Castillo 24, Lumabi 9, Garon 4, Marasigan 3.
Scoring by halves: 20-16, 51-40.

Third Game
Marianas Variety 44 — Han 9, Reyes 9, Kautz 6, Villagomez 6, Flores 4, Manibusan 4, Chinen 2.
Shirley’s 13 ­— Castillo 11, Enriquez 2.
Scoring by quarters: 20-3, 44-13.

Fourth Game
670 Sonics XVI 62 — Dancel 17, R. Bernardo 14, Chavez 10, Mendoza 6, Kim 4, Lagmay 2, Seo 2, Favor 2, B. Bernardo 1.
Saipan Vegas Extreme 61 — King 30, Atan 15, Menchor 3, Tisa 2, Lahara 2, Laniyo 2.
Scoring by halves: 29-26, 62-61.