San Antonio, G-Rollers I arrange IVYBL finals tiff

For the second straight year, San Antonio and Garapan Rollers I will meet in the finals of the 2nd Annual IVYBL Christmas Tournament after the two got past their semifinal opponents yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Coach Ray Duenas’ San Antonio players were first to earn their finals ticket after fighting off a first-quarter deficit and beating an exhausted Tinian squad, 61-44.

San Antonio got off to a rough start and were down 5-10 after the first eight minutes of play, but came back strong in the second period and held Tinian to just three points, while working their magic for 20 points to take a 25-13 lead. Ray Santos drilled three baskets, while Ian Benavente and Matt Duenas each had four markers each to spearhead the San Antonio attack.

The team from the southern part of Saipan continued to pull away from their neighbors across the channel as Rico Salas picked up where Santos left off and swooshed the net for eight points—including the first six for the team—and Santos added another two buckets that enabled San Antonio to break away, 45-26, with only one period remaining.

San Antonio then had no trouble finishing what they started and secured a shot at repeating as champions of the tournament.

Matt Duenas led San Antonio’s balanced attack with 11 points, while Santos, Salas, and Nathan Flores each had 10 points. Aran Evangelista led Tinian with 15 points.

Determined to get a rematch, the G-Rollers I defeated sister-team G-Rollers II, 69-24.

The G-I cagers built an early lead before relaxing a bit to ensure that both teams had a fun outing.

Fun it definitely was as the younger G-II squad used the bout as another session for learning.

The game also featured sisters Nicole and Kaylani Lebria playing on opposite ends of the floor.

Nicole ended up leading G-I with a game-high 14 points, while Kaylani made a basket. Tom Pangelinan also pumped in 10 points for G-I.

Tinian and G-II will battle for third place at 2pm today.

Earlier, Tinian reached the Final Four after putting up a strong second-half effort to beat the Chalan Kanoa Saints in the final game of the elimination round.

Luizi Reyes helped the Saints hold favor in the first half, 27-26, after working his way for 19 points, but was in foul trouble and ran out of steam in the second half.

While the Saints were slowing down, Tinian went on turbo mode and moved the ball quickly to turn the game around and close the third quarter with a 45-34 lead courtesy of a 19-7 run. Brandon Cruz and Evangelista fueled the charge with a combined 15 points.

Tinian continued to fire on all cylinders and closed out the game with ease.

Cruz and Evangelista led Tinian with 20 and 13 points, while Reyes topscored for the Saints with 21 points.

Earlier, the G-Rollers II earned their playoff spot with a 24-21 victory over the Matansa Sparks.

The G-crew trailed by six points after the third quarter, 14-20, but finished strong with a 10-point effort while limiting the Sparks to just a point to stream ahead.

Mike Bondoc and Jason Palacios led the G-Rollers II with eight points apiece, while Diego Camacho had the same production for the Sparks.

The G-Rollers I closed out their elimination round campaign by pounding the San Antonio Sixers II, 60-20.

The team held San Antonio to just a point in the first quarter and cruised to the easy win behind the guns of Jerry Mabini and Nicole Lebria, who pumped in 15 and 10 points.

For their part, the Sixers I posted a similar result in yesterday’s opening game with a 48-16 victory over Team International.

Cagebelle Roxanne Duenas continued to play well and scored a game-high 11 points, while Ian Benavente contributed 10 points for San Antonio.

An awards banquet sponsored by Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela will immediately follow the championship game.

The team that wins the title will not only take home a trophy and a year’s worth of bragging rights, but will also pocket $250. Second place will receive $200, third place $150, and fourth place $100. The team that wins the Sportsmanship Award will receive $75, while the most valuable player will take home $50.

G-Rollers I 60 – Mabini 15, N. Lebria 10, K. Concepcion 6, Salas 6, J. Concepcion 4, Diaz 4, Untalan 4, Jung 3, Moses 2, Deleon Guerrero 2, Rivera 2, Cruz 2.

Sixers II 20 – Josh Duenas 6, Taitano 4, Aguon 4, Agtarap 3, Salem 2, Juan 1.
Scoring by quarters: 12-1, 24-3, 40-12, 60-20.
G-Rollers II 24 – Bundoc 8, Jas. Palacios 8, D. Palacios 7, Deleon Guerrero 1.
Sparks 21 – D. Camacho 8, D. Jones 7, M. Sablan 4, Ry. Camacho 2.
Scoring by quarters: 4-7, 8-14, 14-20, 24-21.

Tinian 58 – Cruz 20, Evangelista 13, Aquiningoc 8, Ericson 8, Santos 3, Cepeda 2, King 2, Shai 2.
Saints 43 – Reyes 21, tudela 9, villegas 7, V. Iglecias 2, Basa 2, Tenorio 2.
Scoring by quarters: 10-12, 26-27, 45-34, 58-43.

Semifinals
San Antonio 61 – M. Duenas 11, Flores 10, Salas 10, Santos 10, Pepito 5, Mendoza 4, Benavente 4, Alexander 3, Babauta 2, Palacios 2.
Tinian 44 – Evangelista 15, Cepeda 9, Cruz 6, Erickson 6, King 3, Sablan 2, Aquiningoc 2, J. Santos 1.
Scoring by quarters: 5-10, 25-13, 45-26, 61-44.

G-I 69 – Lebria 14, Pangelinan 10, K. Concepcion 8, J. Concepcion 8, Mabini 8, Kim 6, Deleon Guerrero 5, Salas 4, Jung 2, Rivera 2, Cruz 2.
G-II 24 – Jas. Palacios 6, Deleon Guerrero 4, Ha 4, Jac. Palacios 2, D. Palacios 2, Hocog 2, Aulerio 2, Lebria 2.
Scoring by quarters: 12-6, 33-12, 43-20, 69-24.