Prius a virtual lock for pennant

Toyota Prius was simply electric Wednesday night in the BANMI 25-and-under Basketball League.

The hybrids avenged their first-round loss to erstwhile league-leader SaipanCell-NMC Hoopholics with a rousing 107-85 victory in the second game of the doubleheader at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

With the pennant championship on the line, Hoopaholics didn’t appear to be the same team that swept the opening round and racked up nine straight wins before losing their first game to San Antonio Wildcats Saturday.

In contrast, Prius was obviously a team on a mission and it showed early in the first quarter when its players contested every attempt by Hoopaholics, scrapped for loose balls, leaked out for easy fastbreak points, and knocked down wide-open jumpers.

The Microl-backed team’s determination was best typified by high-flying swingman Jeremy Winkfield, as the slam-dunking former gold-medal swimmer-turned-high jump record holder poured in 11 points to help coach Gabriel White and Prius to a 25-15 spread after the opening canto.

Winkfield continued his sharp-shooting ways in the second by getting away with another eight-point performance but Prius also got key contributions from the unlikeliest of players.

Former Rotary star and the Saipan Tribune’s own Shan Seman, for instance, quarterbacked well for the hybrids and even swooshed five consecutive points to keep Hoopaholics at a safe distance.

Former Sixer Jack Lizama and ex-NMC cager Gino Libuw also provided a spark off the bench, protecting the paint, plucking down key rebounds, while scoring nine points between themselves as Prius took a 47-39 lead at the break.

The only bright spot for Hoopaholics in the second quarter was the play of go-to guy Jason Amado.

After being shutout by the hybrids’ swarming defense in the first 10 minutes of action, the 5’8” reed-thin forward wiggled free and went berserk by pumping in 15 second-quarter points and at one stretch scored nine straight for Hoopaholics.

Hoopaholics started the second half with a bit more urgency and managed make a dent on Prius’ lead as center Mel Manibusan and forward James Villacrusis attacked the basket.

But just when everyone thought Hoopaholics would get on a roll and make the score close, Paul Magcalas rifled in consecutive 3-point bombs to make the lead comfortable again for Prius.

Guard Dan Barcinas also threw in a couple more buckets for safe measure to give Prius a 75-61 lead going into the fourth and final quarter.

In the fourth, Hoopaholics’ long-limbed center Sivas Awes made his best Bob McAdoo impression, as he made like the former Buffalo Braves and Los Angeles Lakers star by shooting from long distance in hopes of overhauling the Prius’ margin.

Awes was joined in the desperate fourth-quarter charge by Villacrusis and Pete Mendiola, but at the end, the trio and the rest of the Hoopaholics missed more than they made allowing Pruis to stroll to the 22-point win.

Prius had five players finish in double figures, as Winkfield, Barcinas, starting center Ambrose Ogumoro, Seman, and Lizama wound up with 11 points or better in the victory. Amado and Awes, meanwhile, led Hoopaholics in defeat with 21 and 19 points, respectively.

Prius could formally clinch the pennant with a win over the lowly Tanapag Warriors Friday.

And speaking of the Warriors, Garapan Rollers prevented them from breaking into the win column with a 96-83 rout in the first game.

Pint-sized playmaker Jose Tumaquip paced G-Rollers in the win with 23 points, while bull-strong center Mike Reyes led the Warriors in the loss with 31.

First Game
Garapan Rollers 96 – Jos. Tumaquip 23, Fitial 20, Iguel 15, Jones 9, Joe. Tumaquip 6, Ada 6, Naraja 6, Teregeyo 5, Pangelinan 2, Hockings 2.
Tanapag Warriors 83 – Reyes 31, Deleon Guerrero 25, J. Suel 13, J.R. Suel 5, Magofna 4, Seidler 3, Marquez 2.
Scoring by quarters: N.A.
Referees: Jovie Omar.

Second Game
Toyota Prius 107 – Winkfeld 20, D. Barcinas 18, A. Ogumoro 17, Seman 15, Lizama 11, Libuw 8, Magcalas 8, Tagabuel 4, Dillay 4, K. Ogumoro 3.
SaipanCell-NMC Hoopaholics 85 – Amado 21, Awes 19, Mendiola 13, Villacrusis 11, Manibusan 7, Sablan 5, Diaz 4, Fejeran 3, Kapwich 2.
Scoring by quarters: 25-15, 47-39, 75-61, 107-84.
Referees: Ricky Itaas and Noel Delos Santos.