CTSI gets top seed

CTSI’s Nanaka Watanabe, left, dribbles to their frontcourt, while the Lady Ol’Aces’ Tazha Deleon Guerrero, right, and Desrei Camacho chase her during their second meeting in the 2019 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

CTSI closed the preliminary round in the 2019 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament with a four-game winning streak after clobbering the Lady Rollers 56-38, last Sunday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

CTSI finished the double-round robin prelims in the women’s division with a 5-1 record to gain the top seeding in the playoffs where it will face the last placer Lady Rollers anew. CTSI, which absorbed its lone loss in the competition against the Lady Ol’Aces early last month, is highly favored to beat the winless Lady Rollers (0-6) in their battle for the first finals ticket this Saturday at 4pm.

University of Guam standout Jan Travilla played her third game for CTSI and led the No. 1 squad in scoring after firing 14 points. Melody Johnson, who is also a late addition to the CTSI lineup, as she is just on island for a holiday visit, added 8 markers for the squad’s balance offense. Mary Kay Alferos chipped in 6 points, while four other CTSI players contributed 4 markers apiece to hand the Lady Rollers a winless record.

The Lady Rollers failed to get a victory in their last game in the preliminary, as only Jeraldine Castillo stood up for the team after delivering 25 points. Her teammates were held to no more than two field goals.

Meanwhile, in the other game in the division, the Lady Ol’Aces outclassed the Baby Ol’Aces, 45-35.

The Lady Ol’Aces wrapped up the prelims with a 4-2 mark, just slightly ahead of the Baby Ol’Aces (3-3). The sister teams will collide this Saturday at 6pm for the second finals berth.

Tazsha Deleon Guerrero paced the Lady Ol’Aces with her 13 points, while Jamie Pangelinan, Lia Rangamar, and Cassandra Camacho combined for nearly half of the squad’s output after scoring 8, 7, and 6 respectively.

Destiny Pangelinan tallied 11 markers to lead the Baby Ol’Aces’ losing cause.

First Game
CTSI 56—Travilla 14, Johnson 8, Alferos 6, Watanabe 4, Pagarao 4, Alegre 4, Kautz 4, P. Echavez 2, Wally 2.
Lady Rollers 38—Jeraldine Castillo 25, Jerlyn Castillo 4, Buenabajo 4, Hemley 2, Lumabi 2.
Scoring by halves: 25-14, 56-38.

Second Game
Lady Ol’Aces 45—Deleon Guerrero 13, Pangelinan 8, Rangamar 7, C. Camacho 6, Aldan 5, Simran 3, Mendoza 2.
Baby Ol’Aces 35—Pangelinan 11, Joyce 9, Roligat 7, Acosta 4, Rangamar 4.
Scoring by halves: 20-17, 45-35.