Tinian dethrones No Zone

A new champion will be crowned in the Inter-Government Basketball League after pennant champion Tinian dethroned 2005 champion No Zone in the semifinals Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Tinian will be facing a tough Department of Public Safety Enforcers squad, which had its way against No. 2 Department of Labor, 79-53, to advance in the opener of the playoffs double-header.

Labor seemed to have a strong shot at making the finals as the team opened with a good start and took a 20-17 lead after the first 10 minutes of action.

Unfortunately for the Labor cagers, they weren’t able to hold their ground as the Enforcers worked the paint aggressively and handed a big blow to their opponents when Labor center Tim Wesley was whistled for his fourth foul.

DPS was able to take advantage of Wesley’s foul trouble and dominated to outscore Labor, 24-8, and head into halftime with a 41-28 lead.

The Enforcers continued to control the bout as Peter Camacho, Joe Ito, and Ben Pelisamen combined for 21 points to spearhead a 25-14 attack that resulted in a 24-point cushion with one quarter left, 66-42.

It was cruise control from there, as the Enforcers had no trouble putting the game away to earn their finals ticket.

Camacho led DPS with 22 points, while Ito and Pelisamen finished with 15 and 11 points.

Steve Rasa led Labor with 17 points, while Wesley and Mitch Aaron finished with 11 and 10 points.

In the second game, Tinian came back from a 17-point deficit in the second half and stunned No Zone, 95-87.

Both teams were evenly matched in the opening half, with both quarters ending in ties—18-18 and 37-37.

No Zone was able to break away in the third period, going on a 17-7 run in the first five minutes of the second half for a 54-41 lead. No Zone veteran Ed Diaz, however, was in foul trouble by then after being called for his fourth foul.

The No Zone players were in a zone of their own and took advantage of Tinian misfires to pull away and close the third period with a 72-57 advantage.

The defending champions seemed to be in full control, scoring the first basket of the fourth quarter to increase their lead.

Tinian, however, was far from giving in and John Santos and Ton Borja drilled four triples to ignite a 20-4 run a little over four minutes into the final period to pull to within just a point, 77-78, with 5:46 remaining.

Diaz responded with a basket to give No Zone some cushion, but a free throw by Peter Manglona and a bucket by center Jesse Manibusan enabled Tinian to finally pull even at 80-80 with 4:55 left.

After a time out, No Zone went on a 5-0 run on a triple by John Sablan and another bucket by Diaz for an 85-80 spread, but Tinian responded with consecutive baskets and Diaz was called for his fifth and final foul with 3:21 left.

Borja then hit another jumper from beyond the 3-point arc for Tinian’s first lead since the second quarter. Tinian continued to roll with Diaz out of the game and scored eight straight points and held No Zone scoreless for over three minutes before Juan Diaz scored with under a minute left for the final score.

Borja and Manibusan led Tinian with 28 and 21 points, while Santos and Manglona contributed 20 and 11 points.

Ed Diaz and Juan Diaz paced No Zone with 31 and 18 points, while Sablan added 16 points.

First Game
DPS 79 – Camacho 22, Ito 15, Pelisamen 11, Saralu 8, Celes 7, Sablan 7, Manglona 7, Taitano 2.
Labor 53 – Rasa 17, Wesley 11, Aaron 10, Ayuyu 6, Manibusan 4, Fujihira 3, Poquiz 2.
Scoring by quarters: 17-20, 41-28, 66-42, 79-53.
Referees: Arnold Mesa and Jess Pacheco.

Second Game
Tinian 95 – T. Borja 28, Manibusan 21, Santos 20, Manglona 11, R. Borja 7, L. Pascua 4, Reyes 2, Cruz 2.
No Zone 87 – E. Diaz 31, J. Diaz 18, Jo. Sablan 16, palacios 8, Stole 6, Norita 6, Hocog 2.
Scoring by quarters: 18-18, 37-37, 57-72, 95-87.
Referees: Mike White and Dado Vistal.