Upset wins for Flip Top, I Love Saipan

Gwap Gang’s Lester Vertudez is hemmed in by Flip Top’s James Sablan, left, and Jake Quitugua during the fourth quarter of their game in the semis round of the DLX/IT&E caging last Monday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

I Love Saipan pulled off an 84-81 victory against the then undefeated Ali’i in the first game, 84-81, while Flip Top eked out a 70-69 win over Gwap Gang in the second match. After the second round of the round-robin semis, all four teams hold similar 1-1 records, making tonight’s last pair of matches the deciding games for the owners of the two finals seats. Gwap Gang and Ali’I, who swept their first seven matches before losing in last Monday, duel in the second game with the winner battling for the championship trophy against the victor of the first match between I Love Saipan and Flip Top.

Flip Top, which bowed to Ali’i in the semis opener, 50-69, kept its finals hopes alive after Jake Quitugua canned pressure-packed free throws in the last 1.5 seconds of the match. Quitugua trooped to the foul line, as he won the battle for the loose ball after teammate Ferick Aguon missed a long jumper from the left key. Quitugua picked up the leather at the top key near midcourt and had the presence of mind to dribble toward the basket with the clock winding down. Three Gwap Gang players ganged up on Quitugua and Erick Dela Rosa was caught reaching in, sending the lanky forward to the stripe.

Booed by Gwap Gang supporters, Quitugua silenced them by drilling the first charity. He also had no problems hitting the second one and with Flip Top now ahead, Gwap Gang had no choice but to call for timeout to orchestrate a game-saving play in the last 1.5 seconds of the match.

When the game resumed, Dixon Kwon made the inbound from the right sideline and passed the leather to Kelvin Fitial at the right baseline. However, Fitial was hounded by Flip Top defenders and did not even touch the ball as time expired.

Flip Top managed to steal the victory after Gwap Gang squandered a 5-point lead in the last 58 seconds of the back-and-forth game. Gwap Gang gained some cushion going into the last two minutes of the match after Dela Rosa split his free throws and made a putback, while Fitial hit a baseline drive.

Down, but definitely out, Quitugua kept Flip Top afloat when he nailed a reverse layup and drew a foul on the other end. He missed the bonus charity, but Flip Top got the ball back when Fitial’s baseball pitch to Rodney Sacramento was anticipated by Lerio Pagarao. Sacramento was then called for a foul, as Pagarao jumped high to get the ball and the latter moved Flip Top within 1 with his pair of free throws, 41.2 seconds left on the clock.

A faltered triple from Lester Vertudez with the 24-second shot clock expiring failed to give Gwap Gang more cushion, however they got another chance when Quitugia tapped the ball out on the battle for the long rebound. Flip Top then gave up a quick foul on Vertudez, who muffed both charities. After the second miss, Flip Top won the rebound play and rushed to its front court with the clock reading at 18.6 seconds. Aguon was left momentarily open and pulled the trigger. He missed, but fortunately Quitugua was there to pick up the garbage and got a lucky break with Dela Rosa fouling him.

Flip Top had to battle back in the last minute of the match after surrendering a 9-point advantage early in the fourth period, 55-46. Gwap Gang was back in the game and stole the lead, 56-55, as it went on a 10-0 run in a span of three minutes, dating back from Shane Deleon Guerrero’s triple in the last 10 seconds of the third period. It was a close game since then with Quitugua saving the day for Flip Top with his crucial free throws.

In the first match, I Love Saipan bombarded Ali’i with triples to lead all throughout the match.

I Love Saipan knocked in 11 treys against only three from Ali’i.

Mike Olaitiman led I Love Saipan with 32 points, 18 of them came from downtown. He also scored 4 of the team’s last 6 markers to thwart Ali’i’s final comeback bid. Raymond Olopai tallied the 2 other points off two important free throws.

First Game
I Love Saipan 84 – M. Olaitiman 32, Capalad 14, Pelisamen 13, Ruluked 10, Sharry 6, J. Olopai 3, R. Olopai 2.
Ali’i 81 – Devero 15, Mateo 14, Demapan 13, Hernandez 11, Peredo 9, Velasco 7, Garcia 3, De Dios 2.
Scoring by quarter: 18-17, 42-29, 66-61, 84-81.

Second Game
Flip Top 70 – Quitugua 23, Pagarao 22, Barbo 14, Jung 4, Toribio 3, Vidal 2, Aguon 2.
Gwap Gang 69 – Sacramento 20, Dela Rosa 12, Fitial 12, Deleon Guerrero 8, Vertudez 7, Yap 3, Ito 3, Rabasto 2, Kwon 2.
Scoring by quarters: 16-19, 34-33, 55-49, 70-69.