Grand Hotel tops Marianas Resort

Saipan Grand Hotel used a big third quarter to rout Marianas Resort and Spa, while Aqua Resort Club streaked to its third straight win by taking out Hafadai Beach Hotel as the 2006 HANMI Cup Inter-Hotel Basketball League played its final game of the year Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Grand Hotel dominated the first quarter and took a 24-16 lead as forwards William Opone and Dindo Pablo fired 15 points between them.

But Marianas Resort countered with a fastbreak attack in the second—built around the nine points of Jayson Gatdula—that cut their deficit to three points, 45-42, at the half.

Grand Hotel regained its earlier form and even improved on it during the third, outscoring Marianas Resort, 39-21, to extend its advantage to 21 points, 84-63, as Opone, Pablo, Raymond Grafil, Shan Seman, and Ferdie Dela Torre scored six points or more in the quarter.

With a mammoth lead, all Saipan Grand had to do in the fourth was to maintain the advantage and it did successfully as even the bench got into the act to improve the team’s win-loss standing to 2-0.

Opone went on to collect the Danielle’s Massage and Parlor player of the game award after finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Seman added 21, while Grafil, Pablo, and Dela Torre wound up with 14 or more points in the win.

Arnold Capuli paced Marianas Resort with 21 points, while Gatdula fired 20 in the loss, which dropped the Marpi establishment to 0-2.

In the second game, Dalewin Cortez and Darwin Barbo combined for 48 points to lead Aqua Resort to an easy, stroll-in-the-park 92-49 victory over Hafadai Beach Hotel.

Barbo was named MVP of the game as he came away with 20 markers, seven rebounds, and three assists. Pete Iguel was the lone bright spot for Hafadai totaling 15 points and 10 rebounds.

It was the third win in as many outings for the Achugao landmark even as it dropped Hafadai into the cellar in the company of Saipan World Resort. Both teams are winless in two starts.

The HANMI Cup will take a close to three-week break to make way for the Christmas season and will resume on Jan. 9.

First Game

Saipan Grand Hotel 105 – Opone 22, Seman 21, Grafil 16, Pablo 14, Dela Torre 14, Bautista 7, Licop 7, Huliganga 2, Rabago 2.

Marianas Resort and Spa 88 – Capuli 21, Gatdula 20, Usi 16, Alvarez 12, Ocanada 9, Sebastian 8, Sereno 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-16, 45-42, 84-63, 105-88.

Referees: Abner Venus, Noel Delos Santos, and Jess Pacheco.

Second Game

Aqua Resort Club 92 – Cortez 28, Barbo 20, Ambrosio 11, Johannes 8, Domingo 6, Aquino 6, Dela Yola 5, Rabo 5, Torres 2, Velez 2.

Hafadai Beach Hotel 49 – Olaitaman 16, Iguel 15, Calayag 7, Gokesan 4, Alcober 3, Kapileo 2, Estepa 2.

Scoring by quarters: 25-14, 47-28, 69-37, 92-49.

Referees: Gabriel White, Gilbert Espinosa, and Tom Alegre.