Late explosion propels G-Rollers over 7-Kings

Garapan Rollers went nuts in the fourth quarter of Monday’s BANMI 25-and-under Basketball League make-up game against the Ghasias 7-Kings en route to a 106-89 victory at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The G-Rollers played flawlessly in the last 10 minutes, turning a three-point deficit to a 17-point margin of victory.

The Garapan-based team of coach Joe Diaz got off to a decent start, with center Kelvin Fitial powering his way in the paint for eight points, spearheading a 24-18 run in the first quarter.

Ghasias, however, turned the tables on the G-Rollers, swinging the favor to their corner behind the shoulders of scoring phenom Fred Pelisamen and utility man Jason Kaipat.

Pelisamen, who leads the league in the scoring department, did what he does best and poured in 12 points before the half came to an end, while Kaipat stepped up his game and pumped in nine of his 10 points to give the 7-Kings a taste of the lead, 51-47, before the two teams took a breather.

Both teams matched each other in the third stanza, with the G-Rollers managing to inch closer, punching a point more than the opposition, 22-21.

Guard Pedro Iguel carried the load for G-Rollers, drilling 10 points, while Ben Pelisamen picked up the slack for the 7-Kings, nailing seven points to help his team maintain the advantage, 72-69.

The 7-Kings, however, found no answer to the G-Rollers’ explosion in the payoff period, allowing Diaz and his crew to light up the scoreboard for an eye-popping 37 points.

Fitial caught fire, working the paint and even drilling a shot from long distance for 11 markers, while Ton Pangelinan and Ben Jones broke out and torched the net for eight and seven points to lead the fourth-quarter blitz.

Fitial finished with a game-high 31 points to lead G-Rollers, while Iguel and Jones supported him with 18 and 15 points. Brothers Joemar and Jose Tumaquip also chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Fred Pelisamen led the 7-Kings with 27 points, while Ben Pelisamen and small forward B.J. Kaipat added 20 and 13 points in the loss.

League action continues tonight as the G-Rollers tango with powerhouse SaipanCell-NMC Hoopaholics in another make-up game at 6:30pm.

The regular season concludes this Friday with another make-up battle.

BANMI held a meeting last night to discuss the format for the upcoming playoffs, expected to unfold next week.

G-Rollers 106—Fitial 31, Igual 18, Jones 15, Joe. Tumaquip 11, Jos. Tumaquip 10, Pangelinan 9, Naraja 4, Ada 4, Chariton 4.

7-Kings 89—F. Pelisamen 27, B. Pelisamen 20, B. Kaipat 13, Ja. Kaipat 10, J. Pelisamen 7, Rabauliman 5, Je. Kaipat 4, Tagabuel 2, V. Kaipat 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-18, 47-51, 69-72, 106-89.