ARC triumphs; MIBL resumes Sept. 6

IT&E’s Errol Peredo, third left, is hounded by MS Villagomez defenders during the second quarter of their game in the Atkins Kroll Marianas International Basketball League last Saturday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Aqua Resort Club was on fire, as it torched TanHoldings, 112-68, in the second game in the Atkins Kroll Marianas International Basketball League last Saturday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Aqua Resort’s output is the biggest so far in six games in the inaugural league and its winning margin is also the widest early into the season, giving the team a rousing debut and handing TanHoldings a 0-2 record.

TanHoldings, which was also badly beaten by Saipan Vegas (80-108) in its first game, stayed in the match only in the first quarter, as Aqua Resort just took an 8-point lead after the opening 10 minutes of play, 26-18.

Then in the next 10 minutes, Aqua Resort’s guns were blazing and TanHoldings could not retaliate, allowing the former to open a big 56-28 halftime advantage. Lefty Kristian Itaas and shifty guard Mark Ferrer teamed up in the second-quarter breakaway after combining for 18 points or more than half of Aqua Resort’s production. Itaas had a triple in the second frame and scored 10 to finish the half with 19 markers. Ferrer, on the other hand, made up for his 1-point performance in the opening quarter after delivering 8 in the second.

The Aqua Resort duo outgunned the entire TanHoldings crew in the second period, as the losing squad was held to four field goals and none of its players hit more than one basket in the meltdown.

Lawrence Deleon Guerrero tried to pick up the slack for TanHoldings in the third quarter when he knocked in three triples and posted 12 points. However, TanHoldings fell behind further, as Deleon Guerrero failed to get help from his teammates, while Aqua Resort drew contributions from a different set of players with Itaas and Ferrer taking a back seat.

Joseph Maratita stepped up in the penultimate frame with his 10 points, while Daryll Metran and Jofred Laboro added 8 and 7 markers, respectively, to lift Aqua Resort to a 93-47 lead.

Despite sitting comfortably on top, Aqua Resort showed no mercy to TanHoldings in the fourth quarter and reached past the century mark.

Itaas paced Aqua Resort with his 25 points and he also had a team-high six assists. Maratita finished with 14 markers, while Lancaster Secharmidal, Ferrer, and Metran contributed 12, 11, and 10, respectively.

Deleon Guerrero tallied 19 points to lead TanHoldings.

Meanwhile, there will be no games in the MIBL this week and matches will resume on Sept. 6 with IT&E taking on Caravan’s in the first game at 6pm and Bridge Capital battling Saipan Vegas in the second tiff at 7:30pm. Caravan’s, IT&E, and Saipan Vegas won their debuts, while Bridge Capital lost its opener to the latter.

The league is taking a brief break due to schedule conflicts with the matches venue.

Aqua Resort 112—Itaas 25, Maratita 14, Secharmidal 12, Ferrer 11, Metran 10, Arellano 8, Laboro 9, David 8, Mendiola 5, Salazar 4, Tolentino 4, Delos Santos 2.
TanHoldings 68—Deleon Guerrero 19, Dayao 15, Alipio 12, Torregosa 5, Centina 4, Quinitip 4, Nonato 3, Lumen 2, Tenepere 2.
Scoring by quarter: 26-18, 56-28, 93-47, 112-68