Digital Motion, Pogi bounce back

Reinforcements came for Digital Motion, as it defeated Flip Top, 75-69, in the first game in the 2013 DLX/IT&E Invitational Basketball League last Friday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Jun Alipio and Dan Barcinas, who both missed Digital Motion’s 71-96 debut loss to Gwap Gang last week, showed up in the their team’s second game and teamed up in the 6-point victory. Alipio top-scored for Digital Motion with his 25 points, while Barcinas earned 23.

Barcinas drilled 13 of his total points in the fourth quarter, which started with Flip Top still ahead, 53-50. The many-time CNMI National Team member Barcinas scored baskets in streaks at one point in the pivotal fourth and nailed 4 of Digital’ last 6 markers, including two free throws to secure the win. Alipio chipped in 8 in the final quarter, while Bernard Montano contributed 4 and finished in twin digits.

Jake Quitugua led Flip Top (1-1) with his 17 markers, while Allen Aguon added 14, with five of them coming in early in the first quarter to lift their team to a 16-12 lead.
Favor then changed in the second period, 38-34, as Barcinas and Alipio began to work together and combined for 16 of their 26 points. The seesaw battle continued in the third with Quitugua scoring 8 points to bring Flip Top back into the lead, 53-50. Quitugua was then held to 2 points and no Flip Top players hit more than two field goals in the fourth, while Alipio and Barcinas joined forces anew in handing Digital Motion its first win.

Digital Motion and Gwap Gang players battle for the rebound during their game in the DLX/IT&E caging last week at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court. Digital Motion lost, but bounced back quickly with a 75-69 victory over Flip Top last Friday. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

In the second game, Pogi Problems also earned its first victory after routing the Garapan Boys, 71-53.

Pogi, which dropped its opening game against Saipan Ice last week, made the telling blows in the fourth quarter en route to the 18-point win. Ahead by only 8 points at the end of the third canto, 51-43, Pogi worked out a balance offense in the fourth to double up Garapan Boys, 20-10, to notch the twin-digit winning margin. The 20-point output was also the most Pogi recorded in a quarter as it tallied 18, 14, and 19 in the first three periods.

Garapan, which fell to a 0-2 slate, had a good start, firing 17 points, but played flat in the last three cantos, registering 13 markers each in the second and third before nearly failing to break into double figures in the fourth. Garapan connected only on three field goals in the fourth quarter meltdown.

First Game

Digital Motion 75 – Alipio 25, Barcinas 23, Montano 10, Guntar 6, Reyes 2, Gabaldon 2.
Flip Top 69 – Quitugua 17, Aguon 14, Vidal 19, Toribio 12, Isip 6, Sablan 4.
Scoring by quarters: 12-16, 38-34, 50-53, 75-69.

Second Game

Pogi Problems 71 – Hernaez 19, K. Quemado 16, Lerio 11, Madreo 7, S. Quemado 6, Rivera 6, Abba 2.
Garapan Boys 53 – Concepcion 14, Che 13, Rio 7, Esconde 5, Castro 4, Anasan 4.
Scoring by quarters: 18-17, 32-30, 51-43, 71-53.