Tinian stops Labor, NMC Proa routs DPW

Tinian continues to put up good numbers and this time, had enough to knock off Department of Labor, 75-64, as action in the ongoing 2006 Inter-Government Basketball League continues Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

With the win, Tinian moves a game above the .500 mark with a 4-3 win-loss card, while the loss was the second straight for DOL after winning its first four games.

DOL seemed to be on track to bounce back from their first loss of the season as the team came out strong and took an 18-14 lead after 10 minutes of play, with forwards Steve Rasa and Charlie Peters, as well as center Tim Wesley shouldering the team’s offensive charge.

Labor continued to head in the right direction and was five points better than Tinian in the second quarter to increase their lead to nine points, 38-29, at halftime. Guard Mitch Aaron got his stroke working for him as he drilled in nine points, while Ponce Rasa scored all of his five points during the run.

Tinian, however, was far from done as veteran John Santos led his team back in the third quarter, burying two triples while punching in 14 points.

While Tinian was running on all cylinders, Labor struggled and was limited to just 10 points, while giving up 22 points to let Tinian take a 51-48 lead heading into the final period.

Tinian continued to push the right buttons as Santos and Leo Pascua buried triples left and right, while Jess Manibusan, Anthony Borja, and Peter Manglona hit key baskets, as Tinian held on to the win.

Santos led Tinian with 26 points, while Borja and Manibusan added 16 and 15 points. Manglona also chipped in 11 points.

Steve Rasa led Labor with 18 points, while Aaron and Wesley contributed 14 and 12 points.

In the second game, Northern Marianas College Proa took advantage of a short-handed Department of Public Works squad and won, 87-54.

While NMC had no problem rotating their players, DPW only had a few to work with.

NMC was able to control all four quarters to win their third game of the season.

Kevin Aldan and Ray Macduff led NMC with 18 and 12 points, while Oscar Masga had 10 points.

Dennis Norita paced DPW with a game-high 19 points, while Frank Torres and John Tomokane had 14 and 10 points, respectively.

First Game

Tinian 75 – Santos 26, A. Borja 16, Manibusan 15, Manglona 11, Pascua 7.

DOL 64 – S. Rasa 18, Aaron 14, Wesley 12, Peters 6, P. Rasa 5, Fujihira 4, Poquiz 3, Ayuyu 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-18, 29-38, 51-48, 75-64.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Gilbert Espinosa.

Second Game

NMC 87 – Aldan 18, MacDuff 12, Masga 10, Tomokane 10, Castro 7, Satur 7, Attao 6, Manglona 4, Aguon 4, Ierome 3, Garcia 2, Roberto 2, John 2.

DPW 54 – Norita 19, Torres 14, Tomokane 10, Deleon Guerrero 9, Guerrero 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-16, 44-28, 66-41, 87-54.

Referees: Jess Pabula and Gilbert Espinosa.