G-Rollers I dominant as Rotary playoffs begin

The Garapan Rollers family had a great regular season, with two of its teams making waves and advancing to the playoffs of the 2005 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League.

Unfortunately for the G-II cagers, they were seeded eighth, which meant they had to battle powerhouse and pennant champion G-I in the opening of the round yesterday.

As expected, Pistol Pete Iguel and his G-Rollers I squad dominated the bout and recorded their 13th straight win of the season with a 102-54 victory at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Iguel didn’t even need to take out all the tricks in his book as everyone who suited up for G-I handled the rock well and played key roles as the team broke the game wide open after just 20 minutes of play. In all, 14 players from the team scored at least a bucket in the first half, which ended with G-I ahead by a mile, 44-24.

Iguel, who was recently recognized as the regular season most valuable player, got some scoring work done as soon as the second half got underway and was credited with nine of the team’s first 11 points of the half. The spotlight, however, belonged to Jericho Cruz, who converted on two long-range jumpers and swooshed the net for 13 points to spearhead an incredible 58-point explosion by his team.

Ric Basila had a solid half for G-II as the young gun worked hard for eight points.

Cruz finished with 16 points to lead G-I while Iguel pumped in 15 points.

Basila and Nate Mateo led G-II with 12 points apiece, while Arvin Avilla supported them with 10 points.

With the win, G-I advanced to the semifinals, which will be played tomorrow. The team will take on the winner of the San Antonio-Toyota Camry bout, which should be settled today.

Meanwhile, second seed Southern Sonics and seventh seed Matansa Sparks battled yesterday, as did San Antonio Sixers I and the Chalan Kanoa Saints. The winners of the two bouts will face off in the other semifinal match.

G-Rollers I 102—Cruz 16, Iguel 15, Tebuteb 9, Devero 8, Hockins 8, Castro 7, Naraja 7, Omar 6, Pangelinan 6, Teregeyo 5, Tumaquip 5, Chariton 4, Ada 4, Aldan 2.

G-Rollers II 54—Basila 12, N. Mateo 12, Avilla 10, Moses 8, Teregeyo 4, D.J. Camacho 4, D. Mateo 2, Tellei 2.

Scoring by halves: 44-24, 102-54.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Jess Pacheco.