Double-digit winning margin for Saipan Tribune, Kanoa

Saipan Tribune’s John March Ong faces two Shirley’s Coffee Shop defenders after getting the rebound during their first round game in the 2017 TanHoldings Inter-Company Basketball League at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.
(Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Djay Ong had a fitting farewell game for Saipan Tribune, as he exploded for 30 points in their 70-53 demolition of Shirley’s Coffee Shop in the second match in the 2017 TanHoldings Inter-Company Basketball League last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Ong, who is now in Guam after spending his school break and holidays on Saipan, seized the moment of his last game for Saipan Tribune, scoring the squad’s first 11 points en route to their 29-20 halftime advantage. He finished the first 20 minutes of the match with 18 points, nearly matching the output on the entire Shirley’s crew.

The 6’1 player was still unstoppable in the second half and with Hark Galarion and Lester Lapuz backing him up, Saipan Tribune pulled away further for the easy win. Lapuz chipped in 14 points, while Galarion contributed 11.

Young gun Duncan Laxa paced Shirley’s with his 18 points, while Junar Guiab and John Jugos added 14 and 12, respectively. Shirley’s fell to a 1-5 record and is out of contention for the Final Four slots.

Saipan Tribune, on the other hand, boosted its semis chances after gaining a 3-3 record and sharing third place with POI Aviation, which earlier in the first game lost to Kanoa Resort.

The second-running Kanoa Resort (5-1) also registered a double-digit victory over POI, 65-51.

Douglas Schmidt reported late for the game, but made up for his absence in the first half by pouring all his 20 markers in the second. When the second half started, Kanoa Resort was down, 18-19.

Schmidt then knocked in back-to-back shots in the opening minutes of the second half and midway in that period traded baskets with teammate Ricky Bustillo to help Kanoa get win No. 5. Bustillo finished the match with 12 points, 7 of them came in the second half, while Benjie Sison also had 12 markers.

Nak Nakashima had 19 points for POI Aviation, which missed the services of scorer Ferdie Arago.

First Game
Kanoa Resort 65 — Schmidt 20, Bustillo 12, Sison 12, Encarna 8, Francisco 4, Pablo 4, Lumauag 4, Joab 2, Bata 1.
POI Aviation 51 — Nakashima 19, Santos 9, Villaluna 8, Deleon Guerrero 8, Kaipat 3, Paran 2, Mendiola 2, Bait 2, Kim 2.
Scoring by halves: 18-19, 65-51.

Second Game
Saipan Tribune 70 — D. Ong 30, Lapuz 14, Galarion 11, Calayag 6, Rabago 3, J. Ong 2.
Shirley’s Coffee Shop 53 — Laxa 18, Guiab 14, Jugos 12, Bordon 5, Alonzo 2, Drilon 2.
Scoring by halves: 29-20, 50-53.