Team Kio tames Devil Dog’s for 14th straight win

Team Kio and Devil Dog Warriors players in action in last Friday’s Island-wide Men’s Bud Light Basketball League at the Tinian Multi-Purpose Gymnasium. (Contributed Photo)

Team Kio remained perfect after earning its 14th win with a 93-52 lambasting of second-running Devil Dog Warriors last Friday in the Island-wide Men’s Bud Light Basketball League at the Tinian Multi-Purpose Gymnasium.

Seeing action in the opener, the Devil Dog Warriors played physical from the get-go to try and bait Team Kio from losing their cool. The undefeated team still led after the first 10 minutes of action though, 19-12, and then only increased the advantage at halftime, 38-20.

It was more of the same in the second half, as Team Kio just played their A game. A clearly frustrated Devil Dog Warriors tried to blame the referees for their ineffective play on the court and failure to get their opponents off their comfort zone. In all, four technical fouls were called on Devil Dog Warriors.

Team Kio continued on cruise control in the third scoring 31 led by the 10 points of Paka Sablan and the 7 markers of leading scorer Robert Reyes. Team Kio also limited their opponents to a measly 8 points to open a whopping 69-28 edge heading into the fourth and final quarter.

Sablan and Reyes then got some added offensive boost from Peter Cepeda in the final 10 minutes of the contest. The key reserve scattered 6 points and grabbed key rebounds in the payoff period, as Team Kio coasted to the 93-51 victory.

Reyes paced Team Kio in the win with 21 points, followed by the 19 points of Paka Sablan. Zjonti Kubinski scored 19 for Devil Dog Warriors, which absorbed only its third loss in 13 games,

In the second game, Power Builders posted its second straight win after upsetting Rampage, 66-59. The latter missed key players Wesley Walker, Toram Borja, Eptes Epity, and Rudy Borja due to suspension.

Leo Pascua tried his best by shooting the light out when he finally arrived in the third quarter. His five 3-pointers in the period, however, proved futile as Power Builders still completed the surprise win as J.R. Libut was unstoppable inside the paint, leading the team with 26 big points. It was the fourth win in 13 matches for Power Builders, while Rampage, which was led by the 18 points of Jayron Epity, dropped to 10-3. On Friday, Power Builders also beat Team CNMI, 87-81.

First Game
Team Kio 93 – Reyes 21, P. Sablan 19, Cepeda 17, King 11, D. Sablan 10, Sanchez 8, Cabrera 2.

Devil Dog Warriors 51 – Kubinski 19, Kada 7, Montgomery 7, Ogaldez 6, James 4, Sakalan 4, Beal 2, Lapan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-12, 38-20, 69-28, 93-51.

Second Game
Power Builders 66 – J. Libut 26, Castro 19, Apatan 7, Guanlao 6, Sanchez 3, Dumdum 2,

Rampage 59 – Epity 18, Pascua 17, Dela Cruz 10, Johannes 7, Cepeda 2.

Scoring by quarters: 10-6, 33-28, 48-54, 66-59.