Three teams get off to great starts

Saipan Sixers, 69ers, and Tinian All-Stars showed little effects of a holiday hangover, as the three teams went undefeated in the first day of the 2004 Christmas Basketball Tournament held yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the first game, Sixers dominated an inexperienced Young Warriors team and went on to post a 63-16 win in their Pool A game. The only bright spot for the Tanapag team was in the opening minute of the match, when they managed to lead 4-2.

The Mutt & Jeff combination of Brian Ajoste and Mike Eclevia led Sixers with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Gerome Mira paced Young Warriors with eight markers.

Sixers were back on the hardcourt a few hours later and didn’t miss a beat in their 80-26 whipping of Hopwood High School in the fifth game of the day. Ajoste again shone in the match, finishing with 20 points, while Jesse Blesoch added 16.

Tinian, for its part, also mauled Hopwood and Young Warriors to match the Sixers’ 2-0 start in Pool A.

The all-stars didn’t leave anything to chance in their 46-27 win over Hopwood. Tinian’s win in the day’s third game saw Aaron Evangelista score 20 points. Evangelista was back to his sharp-shooting ways, firing 12, in the seventh game, when Tinian downed Young Warriors 36-18.

Unlike the Sixers and Tinian, 69ers are alone atop Pool B with a 2-0 win-loss slate. They began the day with a 72-44 toying of Kagman Cougars in the second game, which saw Jake Maratita and Matt Sablan go to town with a combined 26 points.

69ers then notched win No. 2 following their 44-38 payback win over Island-wide Village Youth Basketball League conqueror Garapan Rollers in the day’s penultimate game. Ernest Duenas scored 21 points in the win over Garapan. Jericho Cruz pumped in 12 in the loss.

The loss to 69ers gave G-Rollers an even 1-1 record. Garapan also debuted strong, thumping William S. Reyes Kingfishers, 80-19, before that loss to their archrivals.

FIRST GAME

Sixers 63 – Eclevia 16, Ajoste 12, Buena 9, Villegas 8, Blesoch 6, Salas 6, Flores 2, Chan 2, Echon 2, Kintz 2.

Young Warriors 16 – Mira 8, chur 4, Aldan 2, Gladikim 2.

Scoring by quarters: 11-4, 27-8, 59-14, 63-16.

SECOND GAME

69ers 72 – Maratita 14, Sablan 12, E. Duenas 10, Babauta 9, Pangelinan 8, Delos Reyes 6, Borja 4, M. Duenas 3, C. Duenas 2, Santos 2.

Kagman Cougars 44 – Ruluked 12, Lorry 12, Demapan 6, Manuel 4, San Nicolas 4, Mark 2, Chris 2, Jermane 2.

Scoring by quarters: 28-12, 36-16, 54-26, 72-44.

THIRD GAME

Tinian 46 – Evangelista 20, Cruz 15, Manglona 6, Cepeda 2, Palacios 2, Shai 1.

Hopwood 27 – Fejeran 7, Baron 6, Rafael 6, Louie 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-2, 25-12, 42-18, 46-27.

FOURTH GAME

Garapan Rollers 80 – Cruz 12, Teregeyo 10, Basila 8, Tereyama 8, Tomokane 7, Castro 6, Masga 6, Untalan 6, Iguel 4, N, Mateo 4, D, Mateo 2, Lebria 2, Jung 2, Sablan 1.

WSR Kingfishers 19 – Rabasto 6, Sablan 4, Bluwett 4, Blas 3, Role 2.

Scoring by quarters: 28-0, 37-6, 62-13, 80-19.

FIFTH GAME

Sixers 80 – Ajoste 20, Blesoch 16, Salas 8, Chan 8, Eclevia 8, Villegas 6, Flores 4, Echon 2, Mendoza 2, Buena 2.

Hopwood 26 – Fejeran 8, Luizi 6, Rafael 4, Baron 2, Louie 2, Ann 2.

Scoring by quarters: 32-12, 50-12, 66-16, 80-26.

SIXTH GAME

69ers 45 – E. Duenas 21, Babauta 10, Sablan 6, Pangelinan 4, M. Duenas 2.

Garapan Rollers 38 – Cruz 12, Castro 10, Teregeyo 6, Iguel 3.

Scoring by quarters: 11-10, 23-23, 34-31, 45-38.

SEVENTH GAME

Tinian 36 – Evangelista 12, Cruz 8, Palacios 4, Manglona 4, Tumed 4, Cepeda 2, Aquiningoc 2.

Young Warriors 18 – Aldan 10, Techur 4, Mira 2, Delai 2.

Scoring by quarters: 6-4, 20-14, 26-16, 36-18.