Garapan set up finals rematch with San Antonio

Second seed Garapan Rollers I played solid ball Wednesday evening and earned a ticket to the finals of the 2006 Island-wide Village Youth Basketball League, setting up a rematch of last year’s finals against San Antonio Sixers I.

G-I cruised to the title game after having its way against the Chalan Kanoa Kings for a 49-20 victory at the Garapan Basketball Court.

With the victory, the team with the second-best record in the regular season will now face pennant champion San Antonio Sixers I, which is comprised of the coaching staff and players from last year’s champion San Antonio 69ers.

The 69ers defeated the G-Rollers in the down-the-wire battle last year to avenge a loss in the finals two seasons ago. The G-Rollers came back and defeated San Antonio to win the IVYBL Christmas Tournament earlier in the year, and the Sixers returned the favor in their regular season meeting in the ongoing league.

The G-Rollers ran on all cylinders in the opening period and quickly solidified their dominance by outscoring the Kings, 12-4, in the first eight minutes of play, with Jericho Cruz taking credit for half of the team’s production.

Tom Pangelinan picked up where Cruz left off and also scored three buckets while getting solid support from the rest of the G-I crew. The Kings put up a stronger effort in the second quarter, knocking down eight points, but it was not enough to close the gap as the G-Rollers added 14 points to their corner for a 26-12 advantage at the break.

It was all G-Rollers in the third as Cruz returned for another four points and Rodney Salas, Noelle Calvo, and Josh Moses combined for six points, helping the G-Rollers increase their lead to 20 points, 36-16.

Not satisfied, the G-Rollers continued to push hard in the final stanza and again held their opponents to four points, while busting up 13 points for the final margin.

Cruz and Pangelinan led G-I with 10 and 8 points, while Moses and Damian Deleon Guerrero added six points apiece.

Edward Salito was phenomenal for the Kings as he scored all but four of the team’s points, finishing with a game-high 16 points.

The Kings were scheduled to battle the CTSI Logistics-backed H.O.M. Saints for third place yesterday evening. Results were not available as of press time.

The championship game will be held today at the Garapan court, with an awards banquet immediately following the bout.

For more information, contact Joe Mettao at 664-2500.

G-I 49 – Cruz 10, Pangelinan 8, Moses 6, Deleon Guerrero 6, Untalan 4, Salas 4, Concepcion 3, Diaz 2, Calvo 2, Lebria 2, Jung 2.
Kings 20 – Salito 16, Blewett 2, Catap 2.
Scoring by quarters: 12-4, 26-12, 36-16, 49-20.
Referees: Joe Mettao and Jovie Omar.