Sixers, 69ers advance to finals tiff

Saipan Sixers and 69ers arranged a winner-take-all championship match after the archrivals posted contrasting victories in the crossover playoff round of the 2004 Christmas Basketball Tournament yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Sixers were the first to enter the finals after repulsing a hard-fighting Garapan Rollers team, 42-39.

G-Rollers were dead serious in pulling the rug from under the Pool A topnotchers, and in several occasions, it appeared they were on their way.

After a 6-6 deadlock in the first quarter, Sixers and G-Rollers continued to wrestle for the lead before the latter was able to make some stops and score some buckets to go ahead, 16-13, at the half.

G-Rollers continued to battle Sixers in equal footing at the start of the third. They would eventually take the initiative, as guard Ric Basila literally carried the team on his shoulders.

With Basila firing eight of his 10 points, the Pool B runners-up took the driver’s seat, 25-24, going into the fourth and final quarter.

With only eight minutes separating both teams from a win or a loss, Sixers main man Mike Eclevia decided to take matters on his own hands.

After scoring 10 in the first three quarter, the fleet-footed playmaker exploded for 14 in the payoff period, including two free throws that clinched the finals berth for coach Ryan Nisperos and his wards.

Both teams only had one player logging in double-figure scores as Eclevia fired 24 points and Basila netted 10.

In the second playoff game, Pool B winner 69ers had no such trouble disposing of the hard-luck Tinian All-Stars, 72-34.

It was no contest right from the very beginning with 69ers burying Saipan’s southern neighbors under an avalanche of points.

After taking the first quarter, 22-8, 69ers would only build on their lead the rest of the way. They took the half, 32-20, and then entered the fourth with a commanding 55-32 spread.

It was all over but for the shouting as the final eight-minute period commenced with both teams emptying their benches.

Jake Maratita led 69ers with 16 points, while Ernest Duenas and Matt Pangelinan added 12 apiece. Tinian, which lost its starting center to injury even before their first game, was paced by the 12 markers of Seth Manglona.

The championship between the Sixers and 69ers is set at 11am today at the Ada Gym. It will be preceded by the consolation match between G-Rollers and Tinian at 9am.

First Round
First Game

Garapan Rollers 41 – Teregeyo 16, Basila 7, Castro 6, N. Mateo 6, Cruz 4, Iguel 2.

Cougars 37 – Manuel 8, Demapan 6, Mark 5, Tawhid 2.

Scoring by quarters: 11-8, 17-21, 27-29, 41-37.

Second Game

Young Warriors 21 – Garde 8, Aldan 4, Repeki 4, Techur 2, Norta 4, Gladikim 1.

Hopwood 10 – Baron 3, Fejeran 2, Rafael 2, Jullianne 2.

Scoring by quarters: 2-0, 7-0, 13-2, 21-10.

Third Game

Sixers 48 – Eclevia 14, Buniag 8, Salas 7, Flores 6, Echon 4, Ajoste 4, Chan 4, Abigania 2, Buena 2, Blesoch 2, Villegas 1.

Tinian 19 – Palacios 5, E. Shai 3, Dosauia 2, K. Shai 2, Evangelista 2, Cruz 2.

Scoring by quarters: 13-3, 25-8, 34-12, 48-19.

Fourth Game

Cougars 52 – Thamasa 16, Chris 6, Mark 6, Ruluked 6, Larry 4, Zachary 4, Raymond 4, Brandan 4, Jermane 2.

WSR Kingfishers 32 – Role 6, Blas 6, Blewett 6, Masga 6, Sablan 4, Rabasto 2.

Scoring by quarters: 12-6, 20-14, 40-20, 52-32.

Fifth Game

69ers 42 – R. Duenas 10, Palacios 6, Santos 6, C. Duenas 6, E. Duenas 2, Babauta 2, Pangelinan 2, Maratita 2, M. Duenas 2, Travilla 2, White 2.

WSR Kingfishers 24 – Blas 6, Role 6, Blewett 4, Dela Cruz 4, Sablan 2, Masga 2.

Scoring by quarters: 12-2, 10-10, 16-13, 42-24.

Second Round
First Game

Sixers 42 – Eclevia 24, Salas 6, Ajoste 4, Blesoch 4, Flores 2, Villegas 2.

Garapan Rollers 39 – Basila 10, Cruz 9, Teregeyo 9, Castro 4, N. Mateo 3.

Scoring by quarters: 6-6, 16-13, 24-25, 42-39.

Second Game

69ers 72 – Maratita 16, E. Duenas 12, Pangelinan 12, Babauta 8, Sablan 7, R. Duenas 4, M. Duenas 4, Travilla 3, Benavente 2, Santos 2, Fejeran 2.

Tinian 34 – Manglona 12, Evangelista 8, Cepeda 6, Tumed 4, Palacios 2, Aquiningoc 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-8, 32-20, 55-32, 72-34.