G-Rollers I perfect run snapped by Makos

The number of unbeaten teams in the ongoing Saipan Rotary Summer Youth Basketball League decreased Monday night after dark horse Makos played spoiler and snapped the Garapan Rollers I five-game win streak at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Makos leaned on a balanced attack that featured five players scoring in double figures to pull off a 79-73 upset, their second straight since having lost their first game of the season two weeks ago.

Both teams have identical 5-1 win-loss cards, however, Makos currently holds the edge in the team standings courtesy of the win.

Veteran Paul Magcalas came out firing in the first half, spearheading Makos’ furious start that caught the G-Rollers I off guard.

Magcalas would torture the Garapan squad for 14 points while Christian Dela Cruz and Wan Joo Jung combined for 17 points to lead Makos to a 12-point halftime advantage, 40-28.

Having had a tough outing in the first half, G-Rollers triple threat Bill Kaipat, Pete Iguel, and Lester Babauta came back in the second stanza, shifted to higher gear, and slowly carried their squad closer.

Magcalas eventually cooled off, but his guns were replaced by guard Quincy Johnson and Seth Hockins, who combined for 22 points while the rest of the Makos gang pumped in solid support to outclass Garapan’s efforts.

Magcalas and Johnson led Makos with 18 and 14 points while Hockins and Dela Cruz finished with 13 points apiece.

Kaipat went off for a game-high 23 points while Iguel and Babauta soared for 21 and 14 points for Garapan.

The G-Rollers were also plagued with foul trouble as slotman Joe Acosta fouled out while five other cagers were slapped with four fouls each.

In the second game, the 69ers II hung tough but were left in the dust after the Sparks whipped out a 47-point punch in the second half to leave with a 79-58.

The 69ers II fought hard and were in striking distance after the first half, 30-32, but could not find enough answers to address the Sparks’ scoring spree.

Zack Diaz and Mike Reyes led the Sparks with 22 and 17 points while Jake Maratita and Preston Basa had 22 and 19 points for the 69ers II.

Last Thursday, the Chalan Kanoa Saints, behind brothers Luis and L.J. Reyes, erased a halftime deficit and scored an upset as they defeated defending champion Ol’Aces 68-65.

Luis would pour in 31 points while L.J. racked up 17 points—15 from downtown—to lead the Saints while Dan Barcinas and Steven Kim paced the Ol’Aces with 17 and 13 points, respectively.

Later in the evening, the G-Rollers II notched their first win of the season with an 88-56 victory over sister-team G-Rollers III.

Monday
First game

Makos 79—P. Magcalas 18, Johnson 14, Hockins 13, Dela Cruz 13, Jung 12, Maday 8, Villagomez 1.

G-Rollers I 73—Kaipat 23, P. Iguel 21, Babauta 14, L. Iguel 7, Teregeyo 5, Joe Tumaquip 2, Acosta 2, Chariton 1.

Scoring by halves: 40-28, 79-73.

Second game

Sparks 79—Diaz 22, Reyes 17, Ben Jones 12, Manibusan 6, Mario 6, San Nicolas 4, Iguel 4, Ogarto 4, Ber. Jones 2, Benjamin 2.

69ers II 58—Maratita 22, Basa 19, Babauta 10, Villanueva 4.

Scoring by halves: 32-30, 79-58.

Thursday
First game

Saints 68—Lu. Reyes 31, L.J. Reyes 17, San Nicolas 8, Ada 5, Iglecias 4, Manalo 3.

Ol’Aces 65—D. Barcinas 17, Kim 13, A. Barcinas 11, Deleon Guerrero 8, K. Ogumoro 7, Tarkong 4, O. Ogumoro 3, Tenorio 2.

Scoring by halves: 26-33, 68-65.

Second game

G-Rollers II 88—Cequena 16, Iguel 14, Tebuteb 12, Castro 11, Aldan 10, Cruz 6, A. Moses 4, Sablan 4, J. Moses 3.

G-Rollers III 56—N. Matteo 15, Basilla 9, Dalan 6, D. Matteo 5, Untalan 4, Sison 4, Kaipat 4, Tereyama 3, Joab 2, Dong 2, Sablan 2.
Scoring by quarters: 36-22, 88-56.