Shirley’s sweeps first round; CTSI/D&Q snaps skid

Shirley’s Coffee Shop’s Fradel Sedillo unloads a short jumper during their game against Saipan Tribune/RMS in the first round of the Tan Holdings caging late last month at the Gillete Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Shirley’s finished the first round of the two-round robin regular season with a flawless 5-0 record, while POI dropped to a 2-3 slate, ending its two-game winning run.

Big man Erick Dela Rosa and Fradel Sedillo towed Shirley’s to its fifth victory in a row after combining for more than half of the team’s total production and leading the squad’s second half attack. Dela Rosa had 30 points, while Sedillo added 20.

The duo had 14 points in the third period, which ended with Shirley’s taking a 67-55 lead after being threatened in the first half, 43-44. Dela Rosa continued working down low for Shirley’s in the fourth quarter and with the league leader pulling away, the team’s other players leisurely hits their shots, while POI failed to counter its foe’s easy baskets.

Richard Kim led POI’s losing cause with is 23 points, while Ferdie Arago and Ramsa Tenepere logged 16 and 14, respectively.

In the second game, CTSI/D&Q ended a four-game losing skid after defeating Saipan Tribune/Realty Management Services, 64-59.

It was a come-from-behind win for CTSI/D&Q (1-4), as it was down by eight after the third period, 53-45, before stealing the victory from Saipan Tribune/RMS. A six-point output in the fourth quarter did it for Saipan Tribune/RMS, which has no win to show in five games in the first round.

Only Ferdie De La Torre and John March Ong scored for Saipan Tribune/RMS in the final canto with four and two points, respectively, and they were singlehandedly outhit by Ariel Jinang. The CTSI/D&Q captain dropped nine of his 16 points in the fourth-quarter rally, and four of his teammates added at least one basket each.

With the win, CTSI/D&Q moved up to fifth place behind Shirley’s, Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan (4-1), Kanoa Resort (3-2), and POI (2-3). Saipan Tribune/RMS is at the cellar with its 0-5 card. The second round will begin this Saturday with Shirley’s taking on CTSI/D&Q in the first game at 4:30pm, POI meeting Fiesta at 5:30pm, and Saipan Tribune/RMS dueling Kanoa Resort at 7pm.

First Game
Shirley’s 94 – Dela Rosa 30, Sedillo 20, Nicdao 8, Catungal 8, Jugos 7, Usi 4, Drillon 2, Sarande 2, Domingo 2.
POI 73 – Kim 23, Arago 16, Tenepere 14, Salamat 9, Matagolai 6, Iglecias 2.
Scoring by quarters: 27-18, 44-43, 67-55, 94-73.

Second Game
CTSI/D&Q 64 – Jinang 16, Garcia 12, Kenty 11, Semisi 8, Candalla 6, Echavez 5, Ilago 2, Nieves 2, Skilang 2.
Saipan Tribune/RMS 59 – Angeles 22, De La Torre 12, J. Ong 9, Moran 6, Pagarao 5, Chan 4.

Scoring by quarters: 20-18, 33-42, 45-53, 64-59.