G-I, Sonics keep perfect records intact

Powerhouses Garapan Rollers I and Southern Sonics kept their perfect records intact Tuesday night, both picking up their fifth win in the ongoing Saipan Rotary Club Summer Youth Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Sonics were given a run for their money, though, as Rotary veteran Luis Reyes and his Chalan Kanoa Saints put up a decent fight before the team from the south managed to slip by with a down-the-wire 61-58 victory.

The Sonics seemed to have control of the game as they dominated the first half courtesy of offensive machine Rowell Aranda and guard Mike Eclevia.

Aranda was coasting offensively in the first 20 minutes, knocking down three bombs from long range and earning 17 points, while the small but terrible Eclevia buried a couple of free throws and drilled in four field goals for 11 points, spearheading the Sonics to a 13-point breathing room at the end of the half, 38-25.

The comfort zone was quickly broken down as Reyes took over in the second half. The guard scored nine straight points in the early goings of the half and helped his team chop down the lead and put the Sonics in the danger zone.

Fortunately for the Sonics, lean forward Jack Lizama broke out of his quiet session and went off for 11 points to keep the team ahead by a slim margin.

Things continued to go in favor of the Sonics as the Saints later caught a huge blow when Reyes was whistled for his fifth foul, forcing him to exit the game.

Aranda and Eclevia finished with 18 and 15 points to lead the Sonics, while Lizama and Lester Babauta contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Reyes led the Saints with a game-high 24 points, while center Rick San Nicolas added 15 points.

Later that evening, coach Joe Diaz and his G-Rollers I crew had their way against the San Antonio Sixers II and left with a resounding 79-28 victory despite missing the services of team leading scorer Pedro Iguel.

The team looked sharp from the get go, and after taking a 24-17 lead into the break, the G-I cagers kicked it up a notch, executed their 2-2-1 trap the best they could, and forced the Sixers II cagers to turn the ball over or misfire on many occasions that resulted in the game turning into a rout.

Joemar Tumaquip topscored for the G-I staff with 15 points, while Vince Teregeyo and Kevin Aldan added 14 and 12 points. Forward Robert Naraja, Ivan Devero, and Ani Tebuteb each had 10 points.

First Game
Sonics 61—Aranda 18, Eclevia 15, Lizama 12, Babauta 11, Kintz 4, Ferrer 1.
Saints 58—Lu. Reyes 24, San Nicolas 15, L.J. Reyes 9, La. Reyes 4, Magday 3, Manalo 2, B. Iglecias 1.
Scoring by halves: 38-25, 61-58.
Referees: Jess Pacheco and Noel Delos Santos.

Second Game
G-Rollers I 79—Tumaquip 15, Teregeyo 14, Aldan 12, Naraja 10, Tebuteb 10, Devero 10, Deleon Guerrero 4, Ada 2, Hocking 2.
Sixers II 28—Echon 7, Aquino 6, Flores 6, Salas 4, Villegas 3, Chan 1.
Scoring by halves: 24-17, 79-28.
Referees: Arnold Mesa and Dado Vistal.