Hoops hand Titans third straight loss

The Bud Ice-SaipanCell Hoopaholics leaned on its hustle and is currently alone in second place in the ongoing 2005 Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League after beating fellow powerhouse MARPAC-Nissan Titans, 98-91, Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The loss was the Titans’ third straight and dropped their win-loss record to 8-4, while the win improved Hoops to 9-2.

As expected, the game was tightly fought as both teams were determined to take solo possession of the No. 2 spot in the team standings. Had the Titans won, they would’ve had identical records but it would have the edge courtesy of the results of their head-to-head meetings.

The Titans enjoyed a slim one-point advantage after the first quarter, 21-20, courtesy of a balanced attack, but the lead was quickly turned around, as Hoops put up a stronger effort in the second period to erase their deficit and go ahead by a field goal, 40-38. A key factor in Hoops’ run was their long-distance shooting as John Sablan, Jester Garcia, and James Villacrusis combined for four triples.

Keeping the Titans close was Aleric Aguon, who used his versatility to score nine of Nissan’s 18 points.

Hoops were determined and were able to stretch their lead at the start of the second half. Sablan caught fire and drilled another three bombs from long range while adding another field goal, spearheading his team to a 67-62 lead heading into the final quarter.

With coach Rufino Aguon shouting instructions from the sidelines, the determined young guns of Bud Ice showed signs of pulling away, using a 12-6 run to widen the gap. A big pull-up 3-pointer by Garcia finally increased Hoops’ lead to 11 points, 79-68, but that was as far as they got as the Titans fought back and brought the lead back down to three points, 93-90, as Aguon, Jawn Joyner, and Kelvin Fitial fueled a furious comeback with aggressive drives in the lane and free throws.

Hoops, however, got another clutch performance from forward Peter Mendiola, whose hustle slowed the Titans’ momentum and enabled his team to pull away and seal the game.

In one occasion, Mendiola sprinted and saved a loose ball from going out of bounds. What made the play big was that the ball bounced off Aguon and went out of bounds, handing possession back to Hoops.

Mendiola came up big just seconds later as he hustled and deflected a 3-point attempt by Steve Rasa to prevent the Titans from moving closer.

Sablan hit one of two free throws and Jerry Diaz went 4-for-4 from the line to close the game.

Sablan led Hoops with 22 points, while Garcia and Mendiola added 14 and 13 points. Jason Amado and Mel Manibusan chipped in 10 points apiece.

Aguon paced Nissan with 20 points, while Rasa and Joyner pumped in 19 and 16 points, respectively. Fitial and Charlie Peters had 15 and 13 points.

Earlier, Anheuser-8 3’s Construction won via forfeit over Budwesier-Wells Fargo.

Bud Ice-Hoopaholics 98 – Jo. Sablan 22, Garcia 14, Mendiola 13, Amado 10, Manibusan 10, Je. Sablan 9, Diaz 8, Villacrusis 6, Awes 4, Fejeran 2.

MARPAC-Titans 91 – Aguon 20, Rasa 19, Joyner 16, Fitial 15, Peters 13, Lashley 5, Camacho 2, Palacios 1.

Scoring by quarters: 20-21, 40-38, 67-62, 98-91.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Dado Vistal.