Ol’Aces survives Cyclones, SIP takes pennant

Cagers of three-time defending champions Ol’Aces-Budweiser won their third straight in the only game played in Saturday’s 2006 Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

With the win, the Ol’Aces closed the regular season with a 3-2 record and in third place. The pennant crown was also secured as Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense-Bud Light won via forfeit over Microl-Bud Ice to finish with a 4-1 record. The Wells Fargo CNMI Nationals also won its fourth straight and finished with a 4-1 record to finish in second place. SIP defeated the Nationals earlier in the season to own the tiebreaker.

The Ol’Aces had to dig deep to survive against Cyclones-O’Doul’s, 77-75.

Short in manpower, the Ol’Aces got off on the wrong foot while the Cyclones were on the right track, controlling the first two quarters.

With Bruce Berline using his power to muscle his way in the paint for seven points, and guard Tyler Yu knocking down three field goals, the Cyclones took advantage of the slow start by the Ol’Aces and were able to hold a four-point edge after the first quarter, 18-14.

The Ol’Aces continued to have trouble putting the ball through the hoop, and the Cyclones made them pay. Yu sizzled for another six points, Justin Fejeran pumped in five markers, and the Cyclones put up a strong attack to outscore their opponents, 22-14, and head into halftime ahead by 12 points, 40-28.

Determined not to be victims of a big upset, the Ol’Aces kicked into high gear in the third period, with guard Luis Iguel igniting their push with several defensive steals. Shan Seman hit two triples and had 11 points, while Taj Van Buren and Gyles Ruluked connected for eight and seven points as the Ol’Aces returned to competitive form and pulled even, heading into the final period with the score knotted at 54-54.

The Cyclones were not going down with a fight and continued to put the pressure on by matching their opponents in the final 10 minutes. David Palacios hit a 3-pointer to start the quarter on a high note and give his team the lead, 57-54. Seman was able to hit three triples for the OI’Aces, and with the team down 69-71, Jake Celes hit a crucial triple that enabled the Ol’Aces to regain the lead.

A free throw by Peter Camacho gave the team a 73-71 lead, but the game was tied again as Fejeran drove the lane and converted on a tough layup, 73-73. Van Buren was then all alone under the basket on two quick transition plays for a 77-73 Ol’Aces lead, and the Cyclones’ Gary Lashley drove the lane for a layup at the buzzer for the final score.

Ruluked finished with a game-high 24 points, while Seman and Van Buren contributed 22 and 21 points, respectively.

Lashley led the Cyclones with 14 points, while Palacios and Yu supported with 12 points apiece. Fejeran also finished in double figures with 11 points.

SIP and the Nationals get first round byes in the playoffs, which gets underway this Saturday. The Cyclones will play Microl at 6pm, while the Ol’Aces will play No Zone-Bacardi at 8pm.

SIP will face the winner of the Cyclones-Microl bout while the Nationals battle the winner of the Ol’Aces-No Zone contest on June 4.

The two winners will then face off for the title beginning at 8pm on June 10. The losers will play at 6pm in the consolation game.

Ol’Aces 77 – Ruluked 24, Seman 22, Van Buren 21, Celes 7, Camacho 3.

Cyclones 75 – Lashley 14, Palacios 12, Yu 12, Fejeran 11, Berline 9, Raho 9, Yangilmao 8.

Scoring by quarters: 14-18, 28-40, 54-54, 77-75.

Referees: Gilbert Espinosa and Arnold Mesa.