PSS rebounds against DPS II

Public School System rebounded from its loss to Northern Marianas College the last game by beating Department of Public Safety II in the 2004 Government Basketball League Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

PSS, which kissed its rendezvous with perfection goodbye Monday against the defending champions, also almost lost this one before rallying in the fourth quarter for a 91-90 win.

Ahead by two points after a deuce by DPS II with the shot clock off, PSS players were being trapped by the lawmakers’ full-court pressure.

Luckily for PSS, center Taj Van Buren was fouled with DPS II in the penalty. The 6’2” sharpshooter made his charities count, giving PSS a four-point lead, 91-87, with eight ticks left in the contest.

Hulking Ned Norita of DPS II ended the game’s scoring by hitting a three as time expired.

It was a sorry loss for DPS II, which led most of the ballgame before succumbing to field goal droughts in the fourth and final quarter.

After ceding the first to PSS, DPS II came out strong in the second quarter with Norita, Ed Diaz, and John Santos leading the way.

With the triumvirate scoring all but four of team’s total output in the second, DPS II took a comfortable 44-35 spread at the half.

Norita then went nuts after intermission, burrying shots from all angles en route to scoring 13 third-quarter points, as DPS II continued to have the driver’s seat, 67-63, going into the payoff period.

PSS, which played without injured playmaker Don Blondin, hurried back into contention in the fourth, as Gabriel White, Peter Mendiola, and Gary Lashley unleashed their own-three pronged attack.

It was anybody’s ballgame down the stretch before PSS extended to a small lead, one they were able hold until the final buzzer, despite the best efforts of Diaz, who pumped in 10 in the fourth.

White led a balanced attack for PSS with 25 points. Lashley added 20 and Mendiola 18 markers.

Norita settled for game-high honors with 26, while Diaz finished with 24 for DPS II.

In the second game, Tinian took out its frustration over Friday night’s forfeit loss against Department of Labor on Saipan Mayor’s Office as the visitors from the south clobbered the winless team, 121-59.

After the Mayor’s Office opened the scoring with a modest 4-0 blast, Tinian outscored them 121-55 to leave the outcome beyond doubt.

Velvet-touch Keith Nabors and Mercury-quick Jarvin Evangelista led Tinian with 25 points apiece. Gil Borja was the lone bright spot for Mayor’s Office, as the swingman erupted for 19 in the loss.

In the lone game Friday, Office of the Public Auditor edged a depleted Procurement & Supply team, 70-66.

Robert Torres led OPA’s charge with 17 points. Taula Peter, Chris Camacho, and Oscar Sablan also netted 12 or more points in the win.

John Palacios and Oscar Masga tried to hold the fort in vain and came up with 25 and 24 points, respectively, in the setback.

Friday

First Game

OPA 70 – R. Torres 17, Peter 14, Camacho 12, Sablan 12, Pangelinan 8, Atalig 4, F. Torres 2, Dela Cruz 1.

P&S 66 – Jo. Palacios 25, Masga 24, Takai 11, Guerrero 7.

Scoring by quarters: 14-22, 32-37, 46-53, 70-66.

Referees: Abner Venus and Dado Vistal.

Second Game

DOL wins by forfeit vs. Tinian

Saturday

First Game

PSS 91 – White 25, Lashley 20, Mendiola 18, Van Buren 12, Gross 12.

DPS II 90 – Norita 26, Diaz 24, Ayuyu 12, Sablan 12, Hocog 8, Regis 6, Manalili 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-17, 35-44, 63-67, 91-90.

Referees: Ricky Itaas and Dado Vistal.

Second Game

Tinian 121 – Nabors 25, Evangelista 25, Manibusan 21, Borja 14, Pascua 12, Manglona 10, Santos 8, Kiyoshi 6.

Mayor’s Office 59 – Borja 19, Tupas 11, Demapan 10, Mizutani 5, Palacios 2.

Scoring by quarters: 29-20, 59-36, 89-48, 121-59.

Referees: Jess Pacheco and Noel Delos Santos.