69ers bag ‘Holiday Hoops’ title

For now, District 6 in San Antonio belongs to the 69ers after the Ray Duenas-coached team mauled the Saipan Sixers, 65-48, in the championship of the 2004 Christmas Basketball Tournament yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The 69ers dominated their cross-village rivals so completely and thoroughly that Sixers coach Ryan Nisperos waved the white flag of surrender more than four minutes left in the contest by sending in his benchwarmers.

Ernest Duenas, Jake Maratita, and Matt Sablan got 69ers in the mood in the first quarter, as the holdovers of last summer’s Island-wide Village Youth Basketball League runner-up team combined for all but four of the team’s initial 18-point outburst, while limiting the Sixers to 11.

69ers continued their run-and-gun style of play in the second, as the Sixers seemed a step or two slower on their transition defense.

It also didn’t help that Nisperos’ boys shot miserably from the field, struggling for just eight points—the same total tourney MVP Bill Babauta scored in the quarter—as the 69ers entered halftime comfortably ahead 35-19.

There was no let up from the 69ers after the 10-minute break either, as they scored the first four points of the second half to go up by 20 points, 39-19, with less than six minutes left in the third.

69ers had plenty of chances to run up the score but coach Duenas pulled out his starters and gave his shock troopers playing time. But even with the 69ers’ second unit on the floor, Sixers cannot seem to get any headway and were still down, 27-46, heading into the fourth and final quarter.

The Sixers made it a little exciting in the early goings of the payoff period when they sliced the lead to 14 points. But as quickly as you could say the word ‘comeback,’ coach Duenas reinserted his starting five and the lead was up to 16 and 18 points once again.

Always a believer that prudence is the better part of valor, Nisperos took out his starters in the final minutes of the game and conceded the title to his counterpart Duenas, who in turn acknowledged the gesture by putting in his second- and third-stringers.

Duenas led all scorers with 16 points, while Maratita, Babauta, and Sablan pumped in 12 or more in the victory.

Alvin Salas paced Sixers with 13 but leading scorer Mike Eclevia finished with only 10 after aggravating a wrist injury.

Earlier, Garapan Rollers salvaged third place after beating Tinian All-Stars, 49-32. Center Don Teregeyo finished with 12 points to lead G-Rollers, while Peter Palacios came away with 10 for Tinian.

First Game

Garapan Rollers 49 – Teregeyo 12, Basila 9, Castro 6, Iguel 6, Cruz 5, N. Mateo 5, Tomokane 3, Sablan 2, Joab 1.

Tinian 32 – Palacios 10, Evangelista 8, Cruz 6, Manglona 6, Shai 2.

Scoring by quarters: 13-10, 28-16, 36-23, 49-32.

Second Game

69ers 65 – E. Duenas 16, Maratita 15, Babauta 12, Sablan 12, Pangelinan 6, C. Duenas 2, King 2.

Sixers 48 – Salas 13, Eclevia 10, Ajoste 8, Chan 5, Kintz 4, Flores 2, Blesoch 2, Villegas 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-11, 35-19, 45-27, 65-48.