Sixers I keeps perfect record intact

Youth standout and Sixers I main man Kevin Cequena ran his old team to the ground in their 81-70 triumph over Garapan Rollers I in the curtain raiser of last Monday’s 2004 Saipan Rotary Club Summer Youth Basketball League doubleheader at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The win was the ninth straight for Cequena and Sixers I. The team now has a chance to complete an undefeated run through the regular season and bag the pennant championship with wins over Chalan Kanoa Saints tonight and Makos next week.

G-Rollers I was in no mood to give the game away in a silver platter to Sixers I. Coach Joe Diaz had his boys play a slowed down and methodical game in the first half, which effectively put a cork on Sixers I and coach Ryan Nisperos’ run-and-gun attack.

Sixers I led by just 8 points, 35-27, after the first 20 minutes of play with Cequena torching the net with 12 markers.

G-Rollers I continued to shadow their favored opponents in the second half as gangly forward Pete Iguel built on his first half success by once again mocking defenders assigned to him.

Frustrated to no end by their inability to pull away, Sixers I players only compounded their woes by playing individual basketball to breakdown G-Rollers I’s suffocating defense.

Luckily for Nisperos and his boys, Sixers I played just well enough to escape the upset axe and the team was able to celebrate with an 11-point win.

Cequena led all scorers with 23 points and 6 rebounds. Swingman Rowell Aranda, another UFO player like Cequena, also collected 16 markers. Adrian Echon also chipped in 11 points and 7 steals in the victory.

Iguel and former Shark Lester Babauta paced G-Rollers I with 21 and 13 points, respectively. Iguel also came away with 9 boards, 4 assists, and 10 steals in the loss.

In the nightcap, Sparks limited the CNMI Women’s Junior National Team to a measly 4 points in the first half en route to a 68-11 victory.

Zack Diaz and Lensie Ogarto scored 14 and 12 points, to lead Sparks. Diaz was also good for 9 rebounds, while Ogarto stole the ball eight times.

Point guard Chariss Ruluked had 6 points, 3 boards, and 3 steals in the loss, while center Vanessa Diaz hauled down 8 caroms for the Nationals.

The 18-and-under Rotary league resumes today with Sixers II taking on Garapan Rollers III in the 5:30pm first game. The 7pm second game will have Sixers I squaring off against Makos.

First Game

Sixers I 81 — Cequena 23, Aranda 16, Echon 11, B. Flores 10, Ranas 7, Kaipat 5, Ngeskebei 4, A. Flores 3, Encio 2.

Garapan Rollers I 70 – P. Iguel 21, Babauta 13, Kaipat 8, Teregeyo 8, L. Iguel 6, Tumaquip 5, Taisakan 4, Chariton 2, Aldan 2, Omar 1.

Scoring by halves: 35-27, 81-70.

Second Game

Sparks 68 – Diaz 14, Ogarto 12, Reyes 10, Richard 8, San Nicolas 7, Ben. Jones 4, Mario 4, Konrad 4, Salas 3, Ber. Jones 2.

CNMI Women’s Junior National Team 11 – Ruluked 7, Stein 2, Diaz 2.

Scoring by halves: 34-5, 68-11.