Titans, Hoops prevail as first round ends

Powerhouses MARPAC-Nissan Titans and Bud Ice-SaipanCell Hoopaholics closed the first round of the 2005 Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League regular season with impressive victories Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the opener, the Titans won their sixth game in seven chances with a 103-92 win over Michelob-Masters Construction.

Nissan’s Tim Wesley and Mark Wallace shouldered the offensive load early for their team, accounting for 13 points to help the Titans take a slim 21-19 lead after the first quarter.

The lead was soon in double digits as slotman Jawn Joyner picked up where Wesley and Wallace left off and tormented the Michelob defense for 12 points in the second period, including scoring four straight baskets.

Michelob’s Dave Sablan, who last Friday went off for 51 points, continued to have his way at the offensive end and did the best he could to keep his team in striking distance. The former Sixers gunner knocked down 15 points in the third stanza, but that was not enough to close the gap as Nissan padded their lead by outscoring their opponents, 30-26, for a comfortable 75-61 cushion heading into the final period.

Sablan still had the hot hand, but his 16 points in the last 10 minutes was overmatched as Nissan still held on for the double-digit win.

Joyner led the Titans with 30 points, while Wallace and Wesley had 22 and 14 points.

Sablan finished with a game-high 43 points, while Ed Diaz and Dexter Mendiola added 13 and 12 points for Michelob.

In the second game, the Hoopaholics used their full-court pressure defense late in their game against Anheuser-3’s Construction and came back from a four-point deficit for an 86-81 victory.

It was a seesaw game from beginning to end, with neither team managing to break into a comfortable lead.

Hoopaholics guard Jason Amado, who had a quiet first half, erupted in the second half to the delight of his teammates and converted on several acrobatic layups that helped the Hoopsters hold a 62-60 lead after three quarters.

Amado continued to slice and dice his way to the rim, but the Hoops later found themselves trailing as Anheuser guard Pando Muleta and center Marlon De Dios managed to hit big baskets to put their team ahead by a couple of baskets.

Hoops then turned to their strength—defense—and were able to regain their lead after forcing Anheuser to commit several turnovers. Buckets by Amado and Sivas Awes with less than a minute left sealed the deal for Bud Ice, which improved to 5-2.

Amado and Melvin Manibusan led Bud Ice with 22 points apiece, while James Villacrusis and Awes finished with 16 and 12 points.

Muleta and Kevin Cequena led Anheuser with 17 points each. Slotman Dalewin Cortez and forward Leo Factor also had 14 and 13 points. Anheuser is also sponsored by National Car Rental.

First Game

MARPAC-Nissan Titans 103—Joyner 30, Wallace 22, Wesley 14, Fitial 10, P. Rasa 8, S. Rasa 6, Camacho 6, Aguon 4, Lashley 2, Quitugua 1.

Michelob-Masters Construction 92—D. Sablan 43, E. Diaz 13, Mendiola 12, Ayuyu 8, M. Sablan 6, Reyes 4, Hocog 2, T. Diaz 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-19, 45-34, 75-61, 103-92.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Jess Pacheco.

Second Game

Bud Ice-SaipanCell Hoopaholics 86—Amado 22, Manibusan 22, Villacrusis 16, Awes 12, Garcia 7, Jo. Sablan 4, Je. Sablan 3.

Anheuser-3’s Construction 81—Muleta 17, Cequena 17, Cortez 14, Factor 13, De Dios 7, De Guzman 4, Mendoza 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-22, 38-36, 62-60, 86-81.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Noel Delos Santos.