670 edges G-Rollers in NYBA thriller

The crowd recieved a big treat yesterday as top guns 670 and the Garapan Rollers put on a show that jump-started yesterday’s 2nd Annual DFS-NYBA Invitational at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

The two teams entered tied atop the standings of Division III Pool A with 2-0 win-loss records.

As expected, both teams gave each other a fight to remember, with 670 coming out on top with an 84-82 victory.

Preston Basa was again big for 670, nailing three crucial shots in the dying minutes, including the game-winning bucket with 14.3 seconds remaining.

The bout was tightly fought in the opening half, with the G-Rollers getting contributions from almost everyone, and 670 getting its push from Basa, Bill Babauta, Frank Blas, and James Camacho.

The G-Rollers were leading, 38-35, with the first half winding down when Basa added another moment into his list of highlights by drilling a half-court buzzer beater to tie the game heading into the break, 38-38.

Neither team was willing to let the other speed away, and the two remained within striking distance of each other for most parts of the second half. The G-Rollers were able to build a slim lead, but 670 was able to keep it close. The game was again knotted, 78-78, with 1:51 left, setting the stage for another phenomenal finish.

Basa and Jericho Cruz of the G-Rollers hit baskets for an 80-80 score.

Won Joo Jung then gave 670 a big boost as he stole a cross court pass by the halfcourt line, raced to the hoop and converted the layup and Joemar Tumaquip hit a jumper that had the right bounce on the rim, resulting in an 82-82 tie again.

Basa, who sank a buzzer-beating game winning triple while playing for G-Rollers II in an NYBA competition earlier this year, came up big in the clutch for his team, nailing another bucket that proved to be the game winner.

The G-Rollers had a shot at tying the game or even winning with a triple, but the 670 defense prevented the team from getting a shot off before time expired.

Basa and Babauta finished with 27 and 20 points to lead 670, while Camacho and Blas pumped in 13 points apiece.

Cruz and Jayvan Tarkong led the G-Rollers with 21 and 16 points, while Zack Diaz and Tumaquip added 10 points apiece in support.

With the win, 670 improves to 3-0, while the G-Rollers dropped to 2-1.

On Monday, 670 edged the Navy Hill Ballers, 52-51, with Basa and Jung leading the way with 20 and 14 points.

Meanwhile, the one-two punch of Kevin Cequena and Rowel Aranda was too much to handle as the two lifted the Southern Sonics to an easy 102-63 victory over the Matansa Sparks.

The Sonics were up by 14 at the break, 44-32, but quickly put the game away in the second half after outscoring the opposition, 52-31.

Cequena and Aranda finished with 23 and 22 points to lead the Sonics.

The girls’ 15-and-under competition on Monday also saw the G-Rollers cruise to a 75-13 victory over Hopwood Junior High School.

Chelsea Ruluked scored 23 points, Noelle calvo had 19, Lia Rangamar pumped in 12, and Nicole Lebria added 11 points to lead the G-Rollers.

The boys’ Division II also featured the G-Stars beating the G-Rollers, 51-47.

Guy Mosley and Josh Moses each had 13 points to lead G-Stars, while Champ Untalan and Rodney Salas added 12 and 10 points.

670 84 – Basa 27, Babauta 20, Blas 13, Camacho 13, Jung 9, Maratita 2.

G-Rollers 82 – Cruz 21, Tarkong 16, Diaz 10, Tumaquip 10, Lu. Reyes 9, Teregeyo 6, Rangamar 4, Omar 4, L.J. Reyes 2.

Scoring by halves: 38-38, 84-82.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Eric Artillaga.