Fiesta-Grand wins HANMI Cup

In the end, Ryan Sanciangco and Elmer Esdrelon were too much for Pacific Islands Club.

Fiesta-Grand Hotel’s 1-2 punch were at their usual best in leading their team to an 87-72 win over PIC in last night’s you-or-me showdown for the 2nd Annual HANMI Cup Inter-Hotel Basketball League crown at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Sanciangco and Esdrelon plus back-to-back baskets from Ferdie Dela Torre kept Fiesta-Grand afloat, especially when PIC last threatened at 61-64 with still six minutes and eight seconds left in the fourth period.

Derrick Tudela’s split free throw and a Butch Kaipat twinner kept PIC close in the game but that was the best they could do as Fiesta-Grand’s dynamic duo bailed their team out of harm’s way.

An Esdrelon 3-pointer plus consecutive putbacks by Dela Torre capped by a Sanciangco 3-point play highlighted Fiesta-Grand’s 10-3 exchange to keep PIC trailing by 10 points, 74-64, with 3:40 left in the game.

PIC never threatened after that as they missed crucial free throws and could not connect with their outside shots, while missing main gunner James Abuy, who committed his fifth and final foul with still 4:11 left to play and Fiesta-Grand holding on to a 71-62 lead.

Sanciangco waxed hot early in the game, drilling in 16 points in the first quarter to help Fiesta-Grand establish a 26-15 advantage. Fiesta-Grand even enjoyed a 42-29 halftime lead.

But PIC would not go down without a fight with Marino Pungilug leading a balanced third quarter scoring attack to help his team close in at 54-55 before Sanciangco and Esdrelon went berserk in the final canto.

Sanciangco scored a game-high 33 points, while Esdrelon added 24 markers with William Opone tallying 13 more. Dela Torre only had five points but four of those points came when PIC threatened to grab the lead.

Tudela paced PIC with 19 points but was held scoreless in the second period while Kaipat, who struggled in the fourth quarter, had 15 markers.

Guards Marino Pungilug and James Abuy combined for 17 points but missed crucial outside shots that could have turned the game in their favor. Also missing was J.R. Ngeskebei’s consistent shooting and scoring savvy.

In the battle for third place, Krisgel Arreza erupted for 23 points to lead Hyatt Regency Saipan to a 77-63 come-from-behind win over last year’s champion Aqua Resort Club.

Mike Umali added 13 points, while Bernard Aquino chipped in 11 markers as well as orchestrating the Hyatt offense. Edmark Mendoza and Steven Tenorio finished with 10 each.

Glen Aquino led Aqua Resort with 23 points while Mike Achas netted 11 more.

Aqua Resort Club 63 – Aquino 23, M. Achas 11, Calvo 8, Gapor 8, Johannes 8, Torres 5.

Scoring by quarters: 10-17, 27-30, 57-43, 77-63.

Referees: Gilbert Espinosa and Manny Sitchon.

Fiesta-Grand Hotel 87 – Sanciangco 33, Esdrelon 24, Opone 13, Dela Torre 5, Carino 4, Manglona 4, David 2.

Pacific Islands Club 72 – Tudela 18, Kaipat 15, Pungilug 9, Abuy 8, Ngeskebei 8, Fernandez 6, Lee 4, Swain 4.

Scoring by quarters: 26-15, 42-29, 55-54, 87-72.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Dado Vistal.