Toyota extends streak, hands Nissan first loss

Two-time defending champion Bud Light-Toyota Tundra put on a show in the first half and then held off a late charge to snap MARPAC-Nissan Titans’ win streak as action in the 2005 Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League continued Monday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Titans actually had an opportunity to win the game, but were not able to sink a shot before time expired, enabling Toyota to leave with a down-the-wire 89-88 victory.

Toyota got off to a jackrabbit start with forward Edsel Mendoza spearheading a 26-15 first quarter run with eight points.

The lead ballooned as Toyota continued to dominate the first half. Mendoza, Taj Van Buren, and Taula Peter nailed three straight bombs from long range for Toyota’s first nine points of the second quarter. Van Buren would add another triple and a field goal, while perimeter sniper Junior Renguul nailed four shots of his own as both scored eight points to help Toyota take a comfortable 17-point cushion at the break, 54-37.

Nissan, however, was not ready to throw in the towel and was determined to keep its perfect record intact.

Slotman Jawn Joyner made his presence felt as he worked his way for 12 points in the third period, while Mark Wallace punched in eight points as Nissan put a huge dent on the deficit with a 28-point push, while holding Toyota to 16 points, to claw back into contention. Heading into the last 10 minutes, Nissan was down by just six points, 65-71.

With their confidence building, Nissan continued to creep closer. Toyota, however, did their best to prevent a comeback victory and despite Joyner swooshing another eight points, Tundra still held a five-point lead, 89-84, with just seconds remaining on the clock.

Titans guard Dave Palacios was then fouled, and the Titans were then handed another two free throws and ball possession after a technical foul was issued to Toyota playmaker Elias Rangamar by referee Arnold Mesa.

Palacios made good on his two attempts to cut the lead to three points, 86-89, but the Titans were not able to pull closer without taking time off the clock as Wallace was not able to connect on the two technical foul free throws.

The Titans caught another break, though, as Ponce Rasa managed to penetrate through the Toyota defense and convert on a layup to bring his team to within a point, 88-89.

Titans had another chance to win the game when Toyota was called for a violation during an inbounds play, but the Titans were not able to sink a shot with time winding down.

Renguul had his canon working and fired 20 points to lead Toyota, while Van Buren finished with 16 points. Mendoza and Abong Camacho also finished in double figures with 13 points apiece.

Joyner led Nissan with 28 points, while Wallace and Rasa contributed 15 and 13 points.

The loss was the first for the Titans after winning their first five games, while the win was Toyota’s fifth straight after dropping their opening game.

Toyota closes its first round schedule this Friday against Bud Ice-SaipanCell Hoopaholics while the Titans play their final first round game against Michelob-Masters Construction on Monday.

Later in the evening, Bacardi-Golden Oldies picked up their second win of the season with an 82-76 victory over winless Budweiser-Wells Fargo.

Rufino Aguon drilled in four triples and finished with 23 points, while Tony Raho and Joe Punzalan had 18 points apiece for the Golden Oldies.

Ben Sablan and J.R. Ngeskebei led Wells Fargo with 29 and 10 points, while Henry McKnight added 10 points.

First Game

Bud Light-Toyota 89—Renguul 20, Van Buren 16, Mendoza 13, A. Camacho 13, Santos 9, Iginoef 8, Peter 5, Saralu 3, Rangamar 2.

MARPAC-Nissan 88—Joyner 28, Wallace 15, P. Rasa 13, S. Rasa 7, Palacios 7, Fitial 5, Aguon 4.

Scoring by quarters: 26-15, 54-37, 71-65, 89-88.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Noel Delos Santos.

Second Game

Bacardi-Golden Oldies 82—Aguon 23, Raho 18, Punzalan 18, Brostrom 10, MacDuff 8, Warfield 5.

Budweiser-Wells Fargo 76—Sablan 29, Ngeskebei 20, McKnight 10, Ermitano 7, Villacrusis 6, Matsumoto 4.

Scoring by quarters: 10-9, 36-30, 59-51, 82-76.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Jess Pacheco.