7-Kings shock Wildcats, Prius take solo lead

Three days after pulling off an upset of Hoopholics, San Antonio Wildcats had a letdown of sorts in the BANMI 25-and-under Baskteball League when it lost to 7-Kings Monday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Rifleman Fred Pelisamen was unstoppable the entire game, firing a night-high 43 points to power 7-Kings to a 98-91 win over the Wildcats in the second game of the scheduled doubleheader.

Wildcats carried the momentum of their win over the NMC and SaipanCell-backed team when it took the opening quarter 18-12 despite missing power-playing Henry Sablan.

But Pelisamen and 7-Kings completely turned the tables on Wildcats in the second quarter.

After a quiet two points in the first 10 minutes of action, the 5’9” scoring machine exploded for 14 points in the second as his team outscored Wildcats 32-20 to take a comfortable 44-30 spread at the half.

7-Kings continued to pour it on after lemon time and added five more points to their lead, as Pelisamen continued his expert marksmanship in the second with yet another 13-point flurry in the third to go up 69-50 with only a quarter to go in the ballgame.

Pete Lizama and J.R. Ngeskebei tried to rally Wildcats back in the contest combining for 27 points in the payoff period as they cut 7-Kings’ advantage to more manageable proportions.

But their effort was again too little, too late and with Pelisamen again torching the net with 14 points in the closing 10 minutes, 7-Kings fittingly held on to the seven-point win.

Pelisamen’s older brother Ben backstopped him with 17 points, while B.J. Kaipat chipped in 16 in the win.

Ngeskebei paced Wildcats with 34 points and Lizama and center Allison Kaipat netted 15 and 10 points, respectively.

In the first game, Toyota Prius took the solo lead after it ran over the Warriors 76-62.

Prius used a balanced scoring attack to quell the Tanapag team, getting five players to score nine points or more to record the win.

Dan Barcinas led the Microl-backed team with 14 points with Ambrose Ogumoro and Jeremy Winkfield chipping in 12 and 11 points, respectively. Shan Seman and Mel Tagabuel added 10 and nine points each.

Do-it-all swingman Jeremiah Deleon Guerrero and bruiser Mike Reyes led the Warriors with 20 points apiece.

The win gave Prius a 10-1 record, a half game ahead of previously undefeated Hoopholics, who are at 9-1. Both teams will face off against each other in the second game tonight, which follows the first game between Garapan Rollers and Warriors.

First Game

Prius 76 – Barcinas 14, A. Ogumoro 12, Winkfield 11, Seman 10, Tagabuel 9, Lizama 4, Libuw 4, Dillay 4, Camacho 4, K. Ogumoro 2, Iguel 2.

Warriors 62 – Reyes 20, Deleon Guerrero 20, Johannes 11, R. Seidler 7, Magofna 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-12, 42-25, 58-44, 76-62.

Referees: Ricky Itaas and Ray Lizama.

Second Game

7-Kings 98 – F. Pelisamen 43, B. Pelisamen 17, B. Kaipat 16, N. Kaipat 8, Rabauliman 6, J. Pelisamen 4, J. Kaipat 4.

Wildcats 91 – Ngeskebei 34, Lizama 15, Kaipat 10, Taitano 8, Sablan 7, Echon 6, Kapileo 5, Blas 4, Kiyoshi 2.

Scoring by quarters: 12-18, 44-30, 69-50, 98-91.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Jovie Omar.