Aqua Resort stops Fiesta as Mobil league kicks off

The tall frontline of Aqua Resort Club was strong in its 2006 debut and fueled the team to a 78-65 victory over defending champion Fiesta Resort & Spa Spain Tuesday night as the 6th Annual Mobil Oil Marianas Co-ed Invitational Basketball League kicked off at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The battle of powerhouses followed a brief opening ceremony in which all teams competing in the league showed off their uniforms in a parade.

Being the defending champion, Fiesta had an automatic slot in the opening game. All other teams drew numbers, and ARC picked No. 2, resulting in the match-up.

Fiesta got off on the right track and went on an 8-0 run to start the game with cage belle Noriko Okasaki leading the way. Aqua Resort, however, was able to fight back with its strong play inside the paint, and closed to within two points, 18-20, after the first period.

The referees were kept busy as many fouls were called in the second quarter. ARC continued to attack the basket and big man Delwyn Cortez went 8-for-8 from the charity line, while Eric Dalangin and Darwin Barbo had their fair share of numbers to spearhead a turnaround that ended at the break with ARC up 42-34.

ARC cagebelle Chelsea Ruluked then stepped up for her team and knocked in a triple and a field goal in the third quarter, sparking an 18-15 run for a 60-49 lead with one quarter left in regulation.

Fiesta was far from throwing in the towel and battled back with William Opone, Chris Adams, and Adonis Macoto leading a comeback, but the effort came up short as Dalangin, Cortez, and guard Ziddy Johanes made huge baskets to close strong.

Cortez and Dalangin led ARC with 22 and 18 points. while Barbo finished with 10 points.

Opone and Adams paced Fiesta with 15 and 14 points, while Elmer Esdrelon pumped in 10 points.

In the second game of the season, cagebelle Connie Camacho scored all of her 20 points in the second half to lead Microl-Toyota to a 112-86 victory over Commonwealth Ports Authority.

It was a tight battle in the early goings, with Toyota holding slim leads after the first two periods—28-24 and 51-44.

The team was able to pull away in the third as Camacho entered the game and took control, burying 10 field goals to push Microl to an 81-68 lead.

Jerome Reyes tried to lead a CPA comeback and went off for 14 points in the final minutes, but CPA was not able to threaten the Microl lead.

Mark Mendoza and Leo Factor were strong in support for Microl with 18 and 17 points, while James Abuy added 12 points.

Reyes and Jawn Joyner led CPA with 24 points apiece, while cage belle Emy Oiterong did her job and finished in double figures with 11 points.

First Game
ARC 78 – Cortez 22, Dalangin 18, Barbo 10, Johanes 9, Domingo 8, Ruluked 7, Bojocan 2, Torres 2.
Fiesta 65 – Opone 15, Adam 14, Esdrelon 10, Okasaki 8, Macoto 6, Carino 4, Galag 4, Philip 2, Alegre 2, Alipala 2.
Scoring by quarters: 18-20, 42-34, 60-49, 78-65.
Referees: Eric Artillaga and Dado Vistal.

Second Game
Toyota 112 – Camacho 20, M. Mendoza 18, Factor 17, Abuy 12, Cequena 9, Cecilia 9, Ignacio 7, Dedios 6, J. Mendoza 6, De Guzman 5, Abuan 2.
CPA 86 – Joyner 24, Reyes 24, Oiterong 11, Torres 6, C. Camacho 5, B. Camacho 3, P. Camacho 3, Ito 2, J. Camacho 2, Sanchez 2.
Scoring by quarters: 28-24, 51-44, 81-68, 112-86.
Referees: Eric Artillaga and Jess Pacheco.