Sixers II nip 69ers I, Ol’Aces win

Defending champion Ol’Aces and Sixers II posted contrasting victories as the other half of the quarterfinals of the 2004 Saipan Rotary Club Summer Youth Basketball League got going last Tuesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Ol’Aces were the first to advance to the final four after they used a 27-12 game-ending run to eliminate Garapan Rollers 73-57.

The defending champions of coach Ambrose Ogumoro pretty much dominated the game in the first half and rested with a 22-13 edge at the break.

But the boys of coach Joe Diaz rallied in the early part of the second half led by ex-Sun Lester Babauta.

A 3-pointer by Babauta cut the Ol’Aces lead to just a single point, 46-45, with time down to just 6:42 in the ballgame.

Garapan continued to stick around in the next couple or so minutes but Ol’Aces clamped down on defense and Dan Barcinas, Leroy Kani, Jeff De Leon Guerrero and Steven Kim suddenly waxed hot in offense to close out G-Rollers I.

Kani led all scorers with 21 points. Barcinas finished with 19 markers, while Guerrero and Kim added 10 points apiece.

Babauta was the only player from G-Rollers I to wound up in double figures with 18. Leading scorer Bill Kaipat was held down to 7 points, the same output churned out by Vince Teregeyo.

Sixers II, meanwhile, had to grind it out against a different 69ers I team orphaned by the suspension of Josh Sablan in the second game.

Just like what Sixers II coach Ryan Nisperos feared, 69ers I played exceptional team ball minus the tournament’s leading scorer and almost scored an improbable win before falling 79-78.

Sixers II led by as much as 10 points in the first half before 69ers I rallied to take a 35-34 advantage at the turn.

It was nip and tuck in the second half and 69ers I tied it at 78-all on two straight baskets by Bordee Tuano.

With only 1.6 seconds left, Sixers II forward Jason Bahillo was fouled with 69ers I in the penalty. Bahillo missed the first but canned the second free throw to give Sixers II the victory.

Manuel Ajoste shot the lights out with 31 points to lead Sixers II. Rayner Ferrer also added 22 in the win. Shawn Fujihira led five 69ers I players in double figures with 21 points.

First Game

Ol’Aces 73 – Kani 21, D. Barcinas 19, Guerrero 10, Kim 10, A. Barcinas 6, K. Ogumoro 5.

Garapan Rollers I 57 – Babauta 18, Kaipat 7, Teregeyo 7, Jo. Tumaquip 6, L. Iguel 4, Naraja 4, Pangelinan 3, Jos. Tumaquip 3, Aldan 2, Acosta 1.

Scoring by halves: 22-13, 73-57.

Second Game

Sixers II 79 – Ajoste 31, Ra. Ferrer 22, Eclevia 6, F. Palacios 6, Kintz 6, Appelo 5, Bahillo 3.

69ers I 78 – Fujihira 21, F. Blas 12, Tuano 12, Alvarez 11, Palacios 10, Sanchez 4, Hernandez 3, B. Sablan 3, J. Blas 2.

Scoring by halves: 34-35, 79-78.