G-Rollers II nips Saints, G-Rollers I wins

All three Garapan teams saw action in the 2004 Saipan Rotary Club Summer Youth Basketball League doubleheader last Tuesday—making sure at least one G-Roller squad walks out a victor from the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium that night.

So it made it doubly satisfying for head coach Joe Diaz when Garapan Rollers I (6-1) and Garapan Rollers II (2-4) won their respective matches.

In the first game, G-Rollers I had their way against Garapan Rollers III (0-6), wiping the floor off with their sister-team en route to an 81-21 demolishing.

It was a monumental mismatch right from the start with G-Rollers I rattling points with wild abandon, while the younger and less experienced G-Rollers III had trouble even bringing the ball down to halfcourt.

After taking the half, 56-12, G-Rollers I brandished their new found killer instinct in the next 20 minutes and won the game by a whopping 60 points.

Bill Kaipat led the G-Rollers I‘s balanced scoring attack with 17 points. He also came away with 7 boards. Pete and Luis Iguel added 14 and 10 points with the former grabbing a game-high 14 caroms. The two Iguels also combined for 10 assists.

No G-Rollers III player wound up in double figures with Nate Mateo pacing the team with 6 points. Rick Basilla also chipped in 5 markers in the loss.

While G-Rollers I topping G-Rollers III was expected, the same cannot be said about G-Rollers II’s 71-69 nipping of Chalan Kanoa Saints (2-4) in the second game.

In fact, the upset took more than 30 minutes to shape up. The Saints were in no giving mood early and, led by offense-minded brothers L.J. and Luis Reyes, took a 32-24 spread at the turn.

But G-Rollers II’s never-say-die attitude served them in good stead in the second half. With the Reyeses absolutely getting no help outside their two sets of hands, G-Rollers II hacked on the lead little by little.

G-Rollers II then finally completed the comeback, courtesy of two free throws coming from Ano Tebuteb and Ivan Devro.

Tebuteb sizzled all night long and came away with 17 points to go alongside his 9 rebounds. Arvin Avila chipped in 11 points, while guard Steve Tellei finished with 4 assists.

L.J. Reyes was the highpoint man for the evening with 28 points, 2 points better than Luis’ 26 markers. Sato Manalo hauled down 12 rebounds to add to his 4 points and 4 assists.

The Rotary league resumes today with undefeated Sixers I taking on 69ers I in the opener. The nightcap then features C.K Saints against the CNMI Women’s Junior National Team.

First Game

Garapan Rollers I 81 – Kaipat 17, P. Iguel 14, L. Iguel 10, Acosta 8, Tumaquip 6, Pangseo 6, Babauta 6, Aldan 4, Chariton 4, Naraja 4, Teregeyo 2.

Garapan Rollers III 21 – Mateo 6, Basilla 5, Kaipat 2, Untalan 2, Joab 2, Dong 2, Dalang 2.

Scoring by halves: 56-12, 81-21.

Second Game

Garapan Rollers II 71 – Tebuteb 18, Avila 11, Castro 8, Devro 8, Cequena 6, Moses 2, Camacho 2, Aldan 1.

Chalan Kanoa Saints 69 – L.J. Reyes 28, L. Reyes 26, San Nicolas 6, Agulto 4, Manalo 4, Ada 2.

Scoring by halves: 24-32, 71-69.