Titans beat Wells Fargo for third straight win

MARPAC-Titans extended its winning streak to three games Monday night, keeping a perfect record after trouncing Budweiser-Wells Fargo, 106-76, in the ongoing 2005 Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Wells Fargo kept the game close in the early moments with veteran Jack Palacios leading the way with six points in the paint, but Nissan closed with an impressive run to take a 23-14 lead after the first period.

A jumper by Dave Palacios to kick off the second period gave Nissan a double-digit lead, one that will only balloon into a more comfortable margin. Despite chugging a long at low gear, Nissan managed to steam away and led 41-30 before resting at halftime.

Nissan kicked it up a notch in the third and began to pull away. Titans slotman Jawn Joyner caught fire and pumped in 10 points in the stanza, leading a 29-18 run that resulted in a commanding 22-point cushion, 70-48.

Shooter Mark Wallace picked up where Joyner left off and scored the first eight Nissan points in the fourth period. Joyner continued to have his way and drilled in another eight markers as the Titans kicked into cruise control and closed the game with ease.

Joyner finished with 23 points to lead the Titans, while guard Aleric Aguon contributed 15 points. Wallace and forward Tim Wesley also finished in double figures with 14 points apiece.

Center Gus Palacios led Wells Fargo with 24 points, while Joe Villacrusis and Jack Palacios supported him with 21 and 14 points.

In the second game, Michelob-Brothers picked up its third win in four games with a 78-75 victory over the Bacardi-Golden Oldies.

The team, which is being backed by Master Construction, limited the Golden Oldies to just 10 points in the opening period to grab an eight-point advantage, but it wasn’t enough to distance themselves as the Oldies regrouped and matched their opponents point for point in the second quarter to keep the deficit at eight entering the break, 33-41.

Golden Oldies crept closer in the third, inching to within seven points, and continued to put pressure on the Brothers in the fourth to claw back and put themselves in a position to possibly win their first game.

Their efforts were turned back, though, as veterans Ed and Tony Diaz knocked down crucial baskets to propel their team to victory. Ed Diaz was a man possessed during the stand, scoring 10 points in the last 10 minutes, including a couple of bombs from downtown.

He finished with 29 points to lead all scorers, while Tony Diaz supported him with 18 points.

Richard Brostrom led the Golden Oldies with 17 points, while Gilbert Espinosa and Joe Punzalan added 13 and 11 points, respectively. Power forward Bruce Berline also chipped in 10 points.

First Game

Nissan 106—Joyner 23, Aguon 15, Wallace 14, Wesley 14, Aaron 8, Lashley 7, Palacios 7, Peters 4, Fitial 4, Camacho 3, Quitugua 1.

Wells Fargo 76—G. Palacios 24, Villacrusis 21, J. Palacios 14, Ngeskebei 6, G. Palacios 6, McKnight 3, Andrew 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-14, 41-30, 70-48, 106-76.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Noel Delos Santos.

Second Game

Master Construction 78—E. Diaz 29, Ton. Diaz 18, Calvo 8, Sablan 7, Mendiola 4, Hocog 3, Ayuyu 2, Sablan 2, Kalen 2, Reyes 2, Norita 1.

Golden Oldies 75—Brostrom 17, Espinosa 13, Punzalan 11, Berline 10, Tamondong 7, Raho 6, Aguon 4, Muna 4, Warfield 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-10, 41-33, 56-49, 78-75.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Dado Vistal.