McDonald’s, Hyatt win in Mobil debuts

McDonald’s fought back from a double-digit deficit, while Hyatt Regency Saipan erased their halftime deficit to win in their debuts in the 6th Mobil Oil Marianas Co-ed Invitational Basketball League Thursday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

McDonald’s was down by 11 points on a couple of occasions but closed the gap before taking charge in the fourth quarter for an 86-85 victory over host Mobil.

Mobil was able to grab the early advantage behind the guns of cage belle Beverly Igitol, who made a strong return to the hardcourt by going off for a whopping 19 points in the first quarter to push Mobil to a 31-18 lead.

Igitol was not on the court in the second period and that’s when McDonald’s battled back as J.R. Barrios and Sonny Lerio each caught fire and sizzled for 12 and 11 points, leading the team in outscoring the opposition, 25-15, to cut the deficit to just three points, 43-46, at the break.

Igitol was back in action in the third but slowed down a bit to score seven points, but both teams matched each other well and headed into the final period with Mobil up, 63-60.

Rowell Aranda and Errol Peredo tried to keep Mobil ahead in the fourth, however, their efforts came to no avail as Robert “Onyok” Tamondong bombed away with three triples and had 11 points to fuel a strong charge that gave McDonald’s just enough for the win.

Lerio and Barrios finished with 21 and 19 points to lead McDonald’s, while Tamondong and Gil Gapor pumped in 18 and 14 points.

Igitol paced Mobil with 26 points, while Aranda and Ronald Delos Reyes added 20 and 16 points.

In the first game, cage belle Fukuda Minori went berserk in the third quarter to lead Hyatt over Saipan Ice and Water Co., 96-81.

Saipan Ice enjoyed an eight-point edge at halftime thanks to the strong play of Bing Marasigan and Bernard Montano. However, Minori stole the show in the second half as she scored 17 points in the third and Hyatt turned their deficit into a 12-point lead, 75-63.

Hyatt continued to play good in the final period, preventing a collapse.

Minori and Mike Umali led Hyatt with 23 and 22 points, while Dexter Dillay and cage belle Maimori Aki finished with 12 and 10 points.

Marasigan and Montano led Saipan Ice with 21 and 15 points. while Jun Tabora and Ferdie Dela Torre punched in 14 and 10 points.

First Game

Hyatt 96 – Fukuda 23, Umali 22, Dillay 12, Aki 10, Villanueva 8, Rodriguez 7, Casadang 4, Yamada 4, Vargas 2.

Saipan Ice 81 – Marasigan 21, Montano 15, Tabora 14, Dela Torre 10, Monroyo 6, Samson 6, Pambid 4, Lopez 2, Tito 2, Mariano 2, Borja 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-18, 40-48, 75-63, 96-81.

Referees: Eric Artillaga and Noel Delos Santos.

Second Game

McDonald’s 86 – Lerio 21, Barrios 19, Tamondong 18, Gapor 14, Dayrit 6, Mi. Achas 4, Alegre 4.

Mobil 85 – Igitol 26, Aranda 20, Delos Reyes 16, Peredo 6, Villarin 5, Manolo 4, Ritual 4, Artates 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-31, 43-46, 60-63, 86-85.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Eric Artillaga.