Nationals earn share of Bud Cup lead

The Wells Fargo-CNMI Nationals now share the lead in the ongoing 2006 Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League.

This after the players that will represent the CNMI in the upcoming 6th Micronesian Games picked up their third win in four games and Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense-Bud Light lost their first game Saturday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

SIP entered their bout against three-time defending champion Ol’Aces-Budweiser with a perfect 3-0 record. However, they were not able to keep the unbeaten streak after the Ol’Aces were able to use their outside shooting to score a 101-87 victory.

As expected, the bout was close in the early goings with the Ol’Aces managing to take a two-point edge after the first quarter, 28-26, with Taj Van Buren hitting three triples to lead the way for the Ol’Aces.

SIP came back strong in the second period and put on a run that enabled the team to jump ahead. The Ol’Aces, however, were able to recover courtesy of five shots from long range and were able to head into the break ahead, 53-46.

Twice the Ol’Aces pulled away in the second half, leading by as much as 19 points, but SIP remained determined and refused to throw in the towel. As a result, the team took advantage of several mishaps by the opposition and at one point clawed their way to within seven points, but that was as close as the team got as the Ol’Aces regrouped and closed with the 14-point victory margin.

In all, the Ol’Aces were able to sink 16 shots from 3-point land.

Peter Camacho led five Ol’Aces players in double figures with 26 points, while John Santos pumped in 21 points. Van Buren and Gyles Ruluked also contributed 11 points, while Shan Seman had 10 points.

Rick Alegre had a solid outing for SIP with 18 points, with Jawn Joyner also contributing 11 points. Two other players scored in double figures.

In the second game, the Nationals used their quick transition attack to steam away from Microl-Bud Ice for a 107-94 victory.

The Nationals looked sharp early and went on a 9-2 run to open the game. Microl was able to fight back and began closing in, but the Nationals went on another run in the closing minutes of the first period to take a 25-16 lead.

Microl was stronger in the second quarter as Andres Estolas and Kevin Cequena combined for 11 points to help the Bud Ice crew inch closer and head into halftime down by just six points, 38-44. The Nationals’ final bucket was the highlight of the evening, though, as center Oscar Ada, who recently returned from Hawaii, cut through the lane, received a pass, and leaped for a two-handed dunk.

After getting instructions from coach Rufino Aguon, the Nationals entered the second half with more focus and began to take command. Fred Pelisamen scored nine straight points and Mark Wallace worked his way for eight points as the Nationals chased down every loose ball, forced turnovers, and were quick to move the ball across the court to outscore their opponents, 29-18, for a 73-56 lead with one quarter left.

Just when it seemed the Nationals were going to run away with the win, Microl came storming back. Ronald Delos Reyes hit a triple and Dalewin Cortez, Rowell Aranda, Estolas, and Cequena hit field goals as the team opened the quarter with an 11-1 run and cut the lead to seven points, 67-74, with a little over seven minutes remaining in the game.

Unfortunately for Microl, the Nationals were able to seize control, return to their scoring ways, and stretch their lead for the win.

Jeremy Sablan and Pelisamen led the Nationals with 20 points apiece, while Wallace and Dan Barcinas finished with 16 and 15 points. Jeremy Winkfield also pumped in 12 points.

Estolas led all scorers with 32 points, while Cequena and Marlon De Dios had 19 and 12 points for Microl. Delos Reyes also had 11 points.

First Game

Ol’Aces 101 – P. Camacho 26, Santos 21, Ruluked 11, Van Buren 11, Seman 10, Rangamar 9, A. Camacho 7, Iginoef 6.
SIP 87 – Sait 22, R. Alegre 18, Joyner 11, Olson 11, Guiab 9, Tamondong 6, Marasigan 3, T. Alegre 2.
Referees: Eric Artillaga and Ed Johnson.

Second Game

Nationals 107 – Pelisamen 20, Sablan 20, Wallace 16, Barcinas 15, Winkfield 12, Fitial 9, Ada 4, Villacrusis 4, Palacios 3, Lee 2, Manibusan 2.
Microl 94 – Estolas 32, Cequena 19, De Dios 12, Delos Reyes 11, Cortez 6, Aranda 5, Mendoza 4, Dalangin 3, Domingo 2.
Scoring by quarters: 25-16, 44-38, 73-56, 107-94.
Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Gilbert Espinosa.