Rotary pennant race heats up

The 2005 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League pennant race continues to heat up as powerhouses Garapan Rollers I and Southern Sonics kept pace with each other, both keeping their perfect records intact Tuesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the first game, the G-Rollers I dominated all facets of the game and doubled up Hoops in an easy 105-51 victory.

Even with their spotless record, the G-I crew continued to show their hunger for something bigger and quickly put the game in their favor.

Guard Joemar Tumaquip drilled a couple shots from long range and had 12 points. while Pistol Pete Iguel cleaned up a lot of loose balls and made good on jumpers and layups for 10 points, spearheading a one-sided half that ended with G-I taking a 45-20 lead.

Unfortunately for the young Hoops team, the G-Rollers I were not satisfied with their 25-point advantage and continued to run and gun in the second half to put the game out of reach. Speedy Tyrone Omar heated up and swooshed in nine points, and Iguel and Ivan Devero both had eight points to lead a spread out offensive attack.

For his part, the Hoops’ Angel Palacios kept pushing and broke into a scoring spree in the second half, going off for 14 points, including eight of the team’s last 12 points.

Iguel and Tumaquip finished with 18 and 16 points to lead the G-I squad, while Devero added 14 points. Omar and John Ada also had 11 points.

Palacios paced Hoops with 18 points.

Later in the evening, the Sonics were put to the test but still overcame their challenge with a 68-52 victory over the Matansa Sparks.

The Sparks put up a strong fight in the early goings and took a 28-24 lead heading into the break. Veteran Zack Diaz was the hot man for the Sparks, putting up 10 points on the board.

The lead, however, evaporated into thin air in the second half as Mighty Mouse Mike Eclevia, league-leading scorer Rowell Aranda, and the rest of the Sonics took control and swung momentum to their corner.

Eclevia worked for 12 points, Aranda broke his silence with 13 points, and Jack Lizama and Rayner Ferrer combined for 11 points as the Sonics outscored their opponents, 44-24, in the last 20 minutes to turn the tables and leave with their perfect record on hand.

Eclevia finished with 14 points, Aranda had his 13, and Ferrer pumped in10 for the Sonics, while Diaz led the Sparks with 17 points.

The Sonics (9-0) and G-I (8-0) have a little over a week to prepare for the game of the season as the two take on each other next Thursday, Oct. 27, at 5:30pm.

First Game
G-Rollers I 105—Iguel 18, Tumaquip 16, Devero 14, Ada 11, Omar 11, Pangelinan 8, Deleon Guerrero 8, Castro 4, Aldan 4, Tebuteb 2.
Hoops 51—Palacios 18, King 8, Masga 8, Fejeran 6, Dela Cruz 5, Manglona 4, Jung 2.
Scoring by halves: 45-20, 105-51.
Referees: Gilbert Espinosa and Arnold Mesa.

Second Game
Sonics 68—Eclevia 14, Aranda 13, Ferrer 10, Lizama 9, Flores 7, Apelo 6, Palacios 5, Kintz 4.
Sparks 52—Diaz 17, Deleon Guerrero 9, Camacho 8, Salas 6, Ulloa 4, Benjamin 2, E. Iguel 2, Ogarto 2, King 2.
Scoring by halves: 24-28, 68-52.
Referees: Gilbert Espinosa and Jess Pacheco.