G-I, Sonics dispute title

Like the regular season, the end of the playoffs will have the same two teams standing on top.

Who will be higher will be decided on Tuesday as pennant champion Garapan Rollers I takes on regular season runner-up Southern Sonics for the championship of the 2005 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Both powerhouses needed every trick in their books to survive the semifinals, with the G-Rollers I slipping past fifth seed Toyota Camry-Ol’Aces and the Sonics rallying from a huge deficit to edge third seed San Antonio Sixers I.

In the first game, Pistol Pete Iguel showcased his determination to bag his first 18-and-under title as he shouldered much of the offensive load to help his G-I crew hold off Toyota, 68-57.

It was a closer game than the final score indicated as Toyota came back from a 12-point halftime deficit and closed to within four points on several occasions in the second half.

Iguel played a key role in G-I’s opening charge as he scored the team’s first six points. He was held scoreless for the remainder of the half, but had solid support as the remaining cast stepped up with eight other players scoring at least a bucket.

The abnormal low-scoring half was due to both teams focusing on defense and using the clock on offense. Ivan Devero also had six points for G-I, while four Toyota cagers had four points apiece as the game headed into the break with Garapan ahead by six field goals, 30-18.

Toyota came back strong and played better to cut the deficit to four points. A field goal and a triple by Steven Kim brought Toyota closer at 40-44, but each time Toyota made a run, the G-Rollers were able to respond as Iguel duplicated Kim’s push with five straight points. Iguel added another four points before the game ended and coach Joe Diaz’s squad earned their finals ticket with solid play down the stretch to prevent Toyota from doing any further damage.

Iguel finished with a game-high 23 points for G-I, while Kim had 15 points for Toyota. The two were the only players to finish in double figures.

Playoff intensity was also on display in the second game as the Sonics erased a 20-point deficit and barely got past the Sixers I, 92-89.

San Antonio’s Kevin Cequena got off to an impressive start, scoring the team’s first 13 points. He wounded up swooshing the net for a whopping 25 points—12 of them coming from downtown—as the Sixers surprisingly dominated the first half, which it took, 46-31.

For his part, Jack Lizama was on fire for the Sonics as he nailed a couple of triples and recorded 11points in the half.

Determined to get another crack at G-Rollers I—the only team to defeat the Sonics in the regular season—Southern went berserk and exploded at the start of the second half, going on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to five points, 41-46.

San Antonio, however, managed to recover and increase its lead to double digits as Cequena again took over.

The comfort zone was short lived, though, as the Sonics made another big run that turned the game around. Down by 10 points, 67-77, the Sonics got two quick baskets from Mike Eclevia and Rowell Aranda to close to within six points. Manuel Ajoste scored on a layup to increase the Sixers’ lead, but an 8-0 run capped by a layup by Aranda enabled Southern to finally pull even at 79-79 with 4:25 remaining.

Cequena then missed on a 3-point attempt and Lester Babauta gave the Sonics a taste of the lead as he leaked away from the defense for a fastbreak layup, 81-79. With momentum on their corner, the Sonics went on another 8-2 run to open up its biggest lead, 88-81.

San Antonio continued to fight, though, and trailed by just four points, 86-90, on a basket by Ajoste. Cequena then drilled a big shot from long distance to pull to within a point, 89-90.

The Sixers had a chance to win the game after the Sonics blew a possession. It was an exciting ending as the Sixers I attempted two shots, both missing, but on both occasions the team came up with the rebound. The ball later found its way to Ajoste’s hand, but the guard was not able to convert on a layup and the Sonics pulled the rebound, with Aranda going for a buzzer beating layup for the final score.

Babauta led the Sonics with 30 points, while Lizama and Aranda supported him with 22 points apiece. Only two other Sonics scored as James Kintz added 10 points and Mike Eclevia had eight points.

Cequena had a strong performance with 48 points, including eight 3-pointers, while Ajoste contributed 14 points.

First Game

G-Rollers I 68 — Iguel 23, Devero 8, Cruz 6, Naraja 6, Tumaquip 4, Ada 4, Omar 4, Teregeyo 2, Pangelinan 2, Hocking 2, Tebuteb 2.

Toyota Camry 57 – Kim 15, Deleon Guerrero 9, Ogumoro 8, Barcinas 6, Pagarao 6, Tarkong 6, Itibus 5, Babauta 2.

Scoring by halves: 30-18, 68-57.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Jess Pacheco.

Second Game

Sonics 92 – Babauta 30, Lizama 22, Aranda 22, Kintz 10, Eclevia 8.

Sixers I 89 – K. Cequena 48, M. Ajoste 14, Magcalas 6, O. Ajoste 5, Dela Cruz 4, Lim 4, Ja. Bahillo 4, Je. Bahillo 2, Nakashima 2.

Scoring by halves: 33-46, 92-89.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Gilbert Espinosa.