G-Rollers deal Hoops 3rd straight loss

The G-Rollers pushed all the right buttons Wednesday night and handed powerhouse SaipanCell-NMC Hoopaholics their third straight defeat in a 78-74 win in the ongoing BANMI 25-and-under Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The battle was hard fought from the opening tip off as the G-Rollers were focused and seemed determined to pull off the upset.

Brothers Jose and Joemar Tumaquip each had two field goals and Vince Teregeyo nailed a bomb from long distance, propelling the Garapan-based team to a slim 19-15 advantage after the first 10 minutes.

The Hoopaholics, however, were not shaken and kept their poise in the second period to claw their way closer. Cat-quick guard Jason Amado got into a rhythm and fired up five points, while forwards Pete Mendiola and Jeremy Sablan punched in a couple of markers to enable their team to cut the deficit to just a point at halftime, 30-31.

A bucket by Sablan to start the third stanza gave Hoops the lead, but the G-Rollers responded with a 13-0 burst to build a 44-32 cushion.

The G-Rollers’ comfort zone was short-lived, though, as the Hoopaholics surged back, retaliating with a 14-0 run of their own with Amado going off for another six points and Darnes Kapwich and James Villacrusis making good on 3-point jumpers, giving the Hoops a 46-44 lead.

Hoops held on to the lead and were up 56-54 at the end of the period.

The G-Rollers then got a big lift from Ton Pangelinan, who sank two triples to spearhead an attack that brought the favor back to Garapan’s corner with 4:25 left, 66-60.

Hoops managed to cut the lead to three, 67-70, on a layup by Mendiola, but the aggressive play of Joemar Tumaquip made the difference as the small guard hit one-of-two free throws, drove the lane for a layup while drawing a foul to give his team a 73-69 lead.

Kapwich kept the Hoopaholics’ hopes alive, drilling another triple with under a minute remaining to close to within a point, 72-73, but Ben Jones hit a free throw and Joemar converted on four more free throws to secure the win after Hoops missed on several attempts.

Pangelinan finished with a game-high 16 points, including three long-range shots in the decisive fourth period, while Jose and Joemar Tumaquip contributed 13 and 12 points. Pedro Iguel and bull-strong center Kelvin Fitial chipped in 11 and 10 points.

Amado paced Hoopaholics with 15 points, while Sablan and Mendiola supported him with 12 points apiece. Villacrusis and Mel Manibusan also had 11 and 10 points.

The 25-and-under regular season concludes tonight as the G-Rollers take on the Tanapag Warriors in a make-up game at 6:30pm. Playoffs are expected to unfold on May 30.

G-Rollers 78—T. Pangelinan 16, Jos. Tumaquip 13, Joe. Tumaquip 12, Iguel 11, Fitial 10, Teregeyo 7, Naraja 2, J. Pangelinan 2.

Hoopaholics 74—Amado 15, Mendiola 12, Sablan 12, Villacrusis 11, Manibusan 10, Kapwich 8, Fejeran 4, Awes 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-15, 31-30, 52-54, 78-74.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Noel Delos Santos.