Shirley’s rolls to seventh straight victory

Shirley’s Coffee Shop’s Angel Catungal pulls up for an uncontested shot as Saipan Tribune/RMS players are late on defense during the fourth quarter of their game in the Tan Holdings caging last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The lopsided win was Shirley’s seventh in as many games, fortifying the squad’s hold to the top spot in the six-team league, while the loss extended Saipan Tribune/RMS’ skid to seven.

Shirley’s turned an eight-point lead in the third quarter, 55-47, to a 28-point winning margin, as the depleted Saipan Tribune/RMS crew lost steam in the fourth quarter, scoring only eight points. Only Victor Regis drilled more than one field goal for the slumping Saipan Tribune/RMS, while Mico Moran and Dennis Chan nailed the two other baskets. Saipan Tribune/RMS played with only seven players and was down to six in the second half, as big man John March Ong left the floor due to a foot injury.

With a shorthanded roster and visibly tired players, Saipan Tribune/RMS allowed Shirley’s one fastbreak basket after another. Angel Catungal, Fradel Sedillo, and Jess Nicdao capitalized on Saipan Tribune/RMS’s failure to go back on transition defense, as they combined for 24 of Shirley’s 28 points in the fourth canto.

Shirley’s total output in the fourth was its biggest in the game, as it did not hit the 20-plus point mark in the first three frames. Shirley’s tallied only 19 markers in the first period, as its main players came in late, allowing Saipan Tribune/RMS to stay in the match and force a tie after the opening 10 minutes of play. The then healthy Ong scored seven points in first period to keep Saipan Tribune/RMS afloat, while Sedillo led Shirley’s with his nine markers.

Ong buried Saipan Tribune/RMS’ first basket in the second quarter and that was it for him, while Sedillo kept going and his other teammates stepped up to put Shirley’s on top at the break, 35-39. Shirley’s stretched the advantage to as much as 14 in the third, 51-37, but Saipan Tribune/RMS refused to give up and moved within eight, entering the final canto. Saipan Tribune/RMS spent so much energy keeping up with Shirley’s in the first three periods, leaving the former with little power to make one final push, while the latter came out fresher and stronger for another victory.

Meanwhile, in the first game, Fiesta also eased it way past CTSI/D&Q, 82-66.

Fiesta improved to a 6-1 record to bolster its bid for the automatic semis seat, while CTSI/D&Q fell to a 1-6 card. The Top 2 teams in the two-round robin play will gain the outright semis tickets, while the bottom four will fight for the two remaining semis slots.

Fiesta played with its captain Elmer Esdrelon and prized recruit Jared Matsutaro, but the team hardly missed the two, as Djay Ong and Paul Quizon were on target in last weekend’s game. Ong fired a team-high 33 points, while Quizon added 17.

The youthful Ong scored 10 straight points in the fourth period, 12 in the quarter, to blow out CTSI/D&Q. Quizon spread his baskets in the first three quarter, helping Fiesta build a 60-50 advantage going into the final frame where Ong took over to finish with 30-plus points.

Meanwhile, Kanoa won the second game last week after POI failed to show up for the match with enough players.

First Game
Fiesta 82 – Ong 32, Quizon 19, Villamena 7, Demafelix 6, Macoto 6, Alakoa 4, Lavarias 2, Bello 2.

CTSI/D&Q 66 – Jinang 33, Garcia 10, Echavez 8, Semisi 5, Kenty 4, Candalla 4.

Scoring by quarters: 22-17, 39-37, 60-50, 82-66.

Third Game
Shirley’s Coffee Shop 83 – Sedillo 25, Dela Rosa 14, Catungal 13, Nicdao 11, Jugos 10, Usi 8, Domingo 2.

Saipan Tribune/RMS 55 – De la Torre 12, Chan 11, J. Ong9, Moran 8, Regis 8, Galvez 5.

Scoring by quarters: 19-19, 35-29, 55-47, 83-55.