Save More, Team Marianas triumph in playoffs

Save More tries to defend against a charge at the basket by Ali’i-Blue Haus leading scorer Jonel Broncano during their game in the 2023 Michelob Ultra Cup Men’s Islandwide Basketball League playoffs of the loser’s bracket last Sunday afternoon at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (LEIGH GASES)

Save More and Team Marianas triumphed in the 2023 Michelob Ultra Cup Men’s Islandwide Basketball League playoffs of the loser’s bracket last Sunday afternoon at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Save More defeated Ali’i Blue Haus, 65-58, in the first game, while Team Marianas beat CK Saints in a close 72-69 contest.

Ali’i Blue Haus put up a fight against Save More when it closed out the third period just down by 1 point, 42-43. 

Blue Haus rose up from the ashes after they scored just 4 points in the first period and were in a 10-point deficit coming out of the second period. They made more accurate plays and passed the ball better to close in on Save More.

When the ball got into the hands of Jonel Broncano, he took it upon himself to lead the team and made sure his shots sunk. He was Blue Haus’ leading scorer with 17 markers. Brandon Talania helped out with 13 of his own, along with Elmer Esdrelon’s 11—with three big 3-pointers.

However, Save More put the pedal to the metal just when Blue Haus crept closer and they pulled away into the lead in the last period. 

Aggressive plays at the net caused multiple fouls which allowed Save More some free throws for their advantage. 

John Mejarito, Save More’s leading scorer with 14 points, made three crucial free throws toward the end of the last period, plus one more free throw and a field goal by Joseph Torres, was enough to pull away from Blue Haus and Save More won just by 7 points.

Team Marianas in the second game of the day played an even closer contest against the CK Saints.

Fouls made by the Saints in the last minutes of the last period proved to be their downfall as Team Marianas banked five consecutive game-deciding free throws—two each made by Lucio Aldan and Jack Aranda, and one made by Greg Sablan. 

Throughout the game, both teams were neck-and-neck, as both teams were never too far from each other’s grasp.

Only in the first period did the Saints have the lead, 16-10, but by the end of the second the Saints were behind by 7.

However, in the third period the Saints’ Lyshawn Reyes picked up the slack and scored 7 points, with an additional 6 points by Leo Galarse. Galarse then led the Saints in their push for a comeback in the last quarter and made 8 of the team’s 19 points—for a game total of 21 points. 

It wasn’t enough though as their defense fell and created free shooting opportunities for Team Marianas to take the W.

In last Saturday’s games, Martech-Ol’aces won a close 64-61 game against Team Marianas and New Changming Market defeated Ali’i Blue Haus, 94-74; and in last Friday’s games, Save More won against Socho, 98-68, and CK Saints routed La Mesa Kusina, 82-72.

First Game
Save More 65 – Mejarito 14, Tekiupua 10, Torres 9, Genese 7, Vicente 6, Daniel 6, Bernardo 6, Jandoc 4, David 3. 
Ali’i Blue Haus 58 – Jone. Broncano 17, Talania 13, Esdrelon 11, Lilles 5, Mateo 4, De Dios 4, De Vero 2, Berline 2.
Scoring by quarters: 13-4; 34-24; 43-42; 65-58.

Second Game
Team Marianas 72 – C. Santos 16, Aranda 10, G. Sablan 9, Aldan 9, Villarin 7, Dela Cruz 6, Richardson 5, K. Santos 5, J. Sablan 2, Garcia 2, Hocog 1.
CK Saints 69 – Garase 21, Lyshawn Reyes 10, Luizi Reyes, Yucummang 6, Manibusan 5, Aldan 4, Bahilo 2.
Scoring by quarters: 16-10; 27-34; 50-54; 69-72.