Saipan Vegas, Old Iskool, Islander prevail

A Saipan Vegas player double pumps a shot against AK Toyota’s Don Brennan during their open division game in United Filipino Organization IT&E 2019 Basketball League last Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Mark Rabago)

Saipan Vegas and Islander Rent A Car prevailed in the open division, while Old Iskool continued its winning run during last Sunday’s playdates in the United Filipino Organization IT&E 2019 Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the first game, Islander Rent A Car improved to 5-2 in the win-loss standings after keeping a disorganized Vision RNV side winless, 87-78, in the open division.

After a slow start that saw them trail Vision RNV, 20-17, after the opening quarter, Islander Rent A Car got their bearings in the second quarter and led 41-35 at the break.

Best player of the game Mark Anthony Mintac built on a 5-point first half by exploding for 12 points in the third, as Islander Rent A Car continued to lead Vision RNV, 67-58, heading into the fourth and final quarter.

It was all she wrote for Vision RNV in the payoff period as Ehrol Peredo’s 8 points in the quarter proved no match to Islander Rent A Car’s balanced offense.

Mintac finished with 21 points to lead Islander Rent A Car, while Peredo paced Vision RNV in the loss with a game-high 28 markers.

In the masters matchup between Old Iskool and Islander Rent A Car, the former blew out the latter in the final 10 minutes of the contest to win the game with plenty to spare, 95-75.

After a tight first half, which saw both teams enter halftime in a 46-all tie, Old Iskool took control of the game behind the 12 combined points of front-liners Romeo Grimpula and Peter Camacho. With the duo punishing Islander Rent A Car, Old Iskool took a 70-64 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Best player of the game Edgar Pangelinan then came alive in the fourth, unloading 16 of his team-high 28 points as Old Iskool left Islander Rent A Car biting their dust in the endgame.

James Abuy and Grimpula back-stopped Pangelinan with 13 and 12 markers, respectively, for the now 5-1 Old Iskool. Rocyl Ritual shone in the loss for Islander Rent A Car, firing a game-high 38 points. It was the third loss in six matches for Islander Rent A Car.

In the evening’s final game, Saipan Vegas proved steadier down the stretch as it outlasted AK Toyota, 88-76, in the open division.

Saipan Vegas had an auspicious start and took the first quarter lead, 25-16. AK Toyota continued to be stuck in neutral in the second quarter, as Saipan Vegas continued to dominate and took a 46-33 spread at the half.

AK Toyota finally got it rolling in the third and aided by the 14 points of Chris Lilles, the team entered the final quarter ahead by 3 points, 64-61.

Brian Natividad, however, would not allow Saipan Vegas to be down very long as he erupted for 14 points in the final 10 minutes of action to lift his team the 12-point victory.

Natividad earned best player of the game honors with 28 points, while Don Brennan paced AK Toyota in the loss with 21. It was the second win against three losses for Saipan Vegas, while AK Toyota dropped to 1-5 in the team standings.

Islander Rent A Car 87 – Mintac 21, Jandoc 20, Andrew 17, Mangali 14, Pastrana 6, Torres 5, Barrios 4.

Vision RNV 78 – Peredo 28, De Dios 12, Guiab 12, Esdrelon 10, Devero 9, Rueda 7.

Scoring by quarters: 17-20, 41-35, 67-58, 87-78.

Old Iskool 95 – Pangelinan 28, Abuy 13, Grimpula 12, De Guzman 12, Bartolo 6, Pablo 6, Camacho 6, Pambid 6, Montano 4, Tolentino 2.
Islander Rent A Car 75 – Ritual 38, Umali 12, Saplan 10, Calbone 10, Sedillo 4.
Scoring by quarters: 23-21, 46-46, 70-64, 95-75.

Saipan Vegas 88 – Natividad 28, Galarse 26, Bisena 14, Tolosa 13, Mungcal 4, Pua 2, Deleon Guerrero 2.
AK Toyota 76 – Brennan 21, Liles 18, Jones 13, Camacho 8, Castillo 5, Sebool 4, Coldeen 2.
Scoring by quarters: 25-16, 46-33, 61-64, 88-76.