670 Sonics XVIII, Sun Palace win

The 670 Sonics XVIII’s Jeremie Manansala fakes off the defense of Saipan Vegas Extreme players during an earlier game in the 2017 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Playoff-bound 670 Sonics XVIII and Sun Palace closed out their elimination round campaign in the 2017 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament on a high note.

Sun Palace topped Kanoa Resort, 68-55, in the curtain-raiser last night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium, while the 670 Sonics XVIII downed sister team 670 Sonics XVI, 63-55, last Saturday.

With the victory, Sun Palace finished the round-robin elimination with a 6-1 record and will be seeded second in the playoffs behind the unbeaten M&M Salas Ol’Aces (7-0). The 670 Sonics XVIII placed third with its 5-2 mark and will challenge Sun Palace in the second semis game this Saturday at 8pm. The fourth-ranked Kanoa Resort (4-3) will duel M&M Salas Ol’Aces in the other Final Four match this weekend at 6pm.

Jerome Malasarte and Bryan De Guzman teamed up in leading the 670 Sonics XVIII to its fifth win with the former firing 15 points and the latter adding 14. Rafael Ordona and Jeremie Manansala also provided enough support to Malasarte and De Guzman after chipping in 8 apiece.

De Guzman dropped 12 of his total points in the first half to hand the 670 Sonics XVIII a 35-22 advantage. Malasarte contributed 7 markers in the opening frame and remained consistent in the second, adding 8 more. Ronald Bernardo had 17 for the eliminated 670 Sonics XVI, which finished the competition with a 2-5 mark for a tie for fifth to seventh place with 670 Sonics XVII and Saipan Vegas Elite.

In the last boys division game in the elimination, Sun Palace closed out strong, thanks to another solid offense from Christian Morales.

The Sun Palace gunner registered a game-high 36 points and as usual hit baskets in succession in the first and second halves to keep his team’s safe distance against Kanoa Resort.

Meanwhile, in the girls division, Fiesta Resort improved to a 7-2 record after easing past Shirley’s Coffee Shop last Saturday, 28-12.

Fiesta is likely to finish second in the team standings behind the GSM Lady Ol’Aces, which was gunning for a sweep last night when it faced the former in the penultimate game in the elimination round.

Marianas Variety and CTSI, which joined Fiesta and GSM in the playoffs, also played last night against IT&E and Shirley’s, respectively, but results of their matches were unavailable at press time.

SATURDAY
Fourth Game
Fiesta Resort 28 — Tuazon 10, Francisco 6, Avelino 6, Joyce 2, Villagomez 2, Lee 2.
Shirley’s 12 — Castillo 4, Santos 2, Enriquez 2, Vargas 2, Surima 2.
Scoring by halves: 14-10, 28-12.

Fifth Game
670 Sonics XVIII 63 — Malasarte 15, De Guzman 14, Ordona 8, Manansala 8, Diaz 4, Kapileo 4, Apasan 4, Aque 2.
670 Sonics XVI 55 — R. Bernardo 17, Contreras 7, Sablan 7, Lagmay 6, Magat 4, Dancel 4, Chavez 3, Favor 2, Galang 2, Mendoza 2.
Scoring by halves: 35-22, 63-55.

MONDAY
First Game
Sun Palace 68 — Morales 36, Hinson 8, Tenorio 7, Galarion 6, Factor 4, Podziewski 3.
Kanoa Resort 55 — Tenorio 17, Deleon Guerrero 15, Gamab 14, Muna 4, Yun 4.
Scoring by halves: 37-30, 68-55.