3 teams battle for last 2 playoff berths

Shirley’s Coffee Shop’s Junar Guiab, left, and Isaiah Bordon, right, challenge the shot of Kanoa Resort’s Sonny Encarnacion during the first half of their game in the 2017 Tan Holdings Inter-Company Basketball League last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Shirley’s Coffee Shop, POI Aviation, and Saipan Tribune play in make-or-break games tonight as they fight for the last two semis berths in the 2017 Tan Holdings Inter-Company Basketball League.

The three teams hold similar 4-5 records going into the last day of the elimination round and the two squads to win in tonight’s triple-header will join Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan (9-0) and Kanoa Resort (6-3) in the Final Four. Shirley’s will face the unbeaten Fiesta Resort in the second game at 7pm, while Saipan Tribune and POI will collide in the third match at 8pm. Kanoa Resort and Lower Base Warriors will play in the curtain-raiser at 6pm.

Shirley’s remained in contention for a semis slot after stunning Kanoa Resort last Friday, 64-63, at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

It was a come-from-behind victory for Shirley’s, as it was once down by 17 points in the first half. Kanoa led at 34-17, but played complacent the rest of the way, allowing Shirley’s to recover.

Seth Alonzo anchored Shirley’s fightback, as he scored 8 straight points. Alonzo and company had a 12-2 windup in the last seven minutes of the first half to cut the deficit to 7 at the break, 29-36.

Shirley’s then continued its uphill climb in the second half and this time, the trio of John Jugos, Duncan Laxa, and Junar Guiab teamed up in completing the team’s upset over Kanoa. Laxa finished with a game-high 18 points, while Jugos and Guiab chipped n 13 and 14, respectively.

In other results, POI snapped a three-game losing skid and kept its playoffs hopes alive after downing the Lower Base Warriors, 65-57.

Nak Nakashima top-scored for POI with his 16 points and drew a lot of help from his teammates to beat the depleted Lower Base crew in the first match last weekend.

In the second game, Fiesta Resort moved a win away from sweeping the double-round robin elimination following an 81-51 rout of Saipan Tribune.

Fiesta also capitalized on the short-handed Saipan Tribune to cruise to its ninth win in as many matches. Four Fiesta players registered double-figures in their 30-point victory with Arjay Nonato leading the way with his 14 points, Troy Ngirarois added 13, while Krisgel Arreza and Wilfredo Francisco contributed 10 each. Joseph Villamena, Fradel Sedillo, and Rex Demafelix contributed 8 points apiece in Fiesta Resort’s balance offense.

First Game
POI 65 — Nakashima 16, Yu 9, Tenepere 9, Santos 7, Delos Santos 7, Deleon Guerrero 7, Kaipat 6, Kim 4.
Lower Base 57 — Fujihira 19, Riungel 15, Kenty 10, Alegre 8, Jinang 3, Peteru 2.
Scoring by halves: 35-31, 65-57.

Second Game
Fiesta Rockers 81 — Nonato 14, Ngirarois 13, Arreza 10, Francisco 14, Sedillo 8, Demafelix 8, Villamena 8, Esdrelon 4, Maliwanag 2.
Saipan Tribune 51 — Usi 20, M. Ong 12, De La Torre 8, Lapuz 5, Rabago 3, Calayag 2, Orbeta 2.
Scoring by halves: 33-23, 81-51.

Third Game
Shirley’s 64 — Laxa 18, Jugos 14, Guiab 13, Alonzo 8, Catungal 7, Bordon 2, Palma 2.
Kanoa Resort 63 — Schmidt 21, Pablo 14, Encarnacion 10, De Arroz 10, Sison 5, Bustillo 3.
Scoring by halves: 29-36, 64-63.