Ali’i, Gwap Gang clinch semis berths

Ali’i and Gwap Gang bagged the first two semis spots in the2014 DLX/IT&E Invitational Basketball League after pulling off similar close wins last Monday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court to march into the quarterfinals.

Ali’i’s Raymond Velasco, left, and Bart Demapan, right, plays tough defense on a driving Cecilio Bisana of ICS Shooters. Demapan went on to block Bisana and help Ali’i pull off a 67-64 win in their playoff game in the DLX/IT&E caging last Monday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Ali’i delivered in the homestretch, making clutch baskets and free throws, offensive rebounds, and defensive stops to eliminate ICS and extend its streak this season to six after a 5-0 sweep of the regular season.

Down 61-64, going into the last two minutes of the match, Bart Demapan converted a quick turnaround jumper to move Ali’i within 1, while Ivan Devero also hit a short jumper to put the team on top. Before Demapan and Devero’s baskets, Ali’i and ICS traded misses for more than one minute with Keoni Chariton faltering on a baseline drive and Leo Galarse on his scoop shot, while Errol Peredo doing it on the other end for Ali’i.

After Peredo’s second muffed shot, Demapan went for a put-back, but also had no success. Fortunately, Raymond Velasco collared the second rebound for Ali’i and was fouled, 28.5 seconds left on the clock. Ali’i sued for time and when the game resumed Devero went for an isolation play from the left key before pulling up for the go-ahead jumper against Don Brennan and Cecilio Bisana, 65-64, 18.1 seconds remaining in the game.

Now behind, it was ICS’ turn to call a time out, but failed to execute in the crucial stage of the match. Bisana drove strong to the basket against Velasco and Demapan, but was blocked by the latter. ICS kept possession with Galarse doing the inbound play and passing the ball to Djay Ong, who moved out of the paint and was tightly guarded by Peredo. The Marianas High School standout then leaned in past Peredo’s defense for a shot, but his attempt hit nothing but air and the ball went out to the baseline. ICS contested the leather was partially blocked by Peredo, but the referee saw otherwise, awarding possession to Ali’i.

A quick foul on Galarse after the Ali’i inbound play sent Kobe Mendoza to the 15-foot line with six seconds left. Mendoza made his first free throw and missed the second, but again Velasco was there for the offensive board and was fouled, too. Velasco banked in the first charity for the insurance and intentionally muffed the second, giving players just three seconds left to fight for the rebound. Galarse won the battle, but ICS ran out of time and did not even make an attempt as the ball was still in the backcourt.

Meanwhile, Gwap Gang also scored clutch baskets to thwart San Roque.

Dixon Kwon drilled all his three points in the closing seconds of the quarterfinal game, while Shane Deleon Guerrero had split free throws, as they combined for the last four markers of Gwap Gang.

Gwang Gang and Ali’i now wait for the winners of the Hite-I Love Saipan and Saipan Ice-Flip Top playoff matches to start the round-robin semis this weekend. The Top 2 teams in the semis will collide in the championship round. The two remaining quarterfinal games will be played tonight.

First Game
Gwap Gang 69 – Deleon Guerrero 11, Vertudez 10, Sacramento 10, Rabasto 9, Darag 9, Yap 5, Fitial 5, Ano 4, Kwon 2, Dela Rosa 2.
San Roque 66 – De Guzman 21, Guiab 11, Guiang 10, Mendoza 7, Salazar 6, Barrios 3, Odista 3.
Scoring by quarters: 22-19, 34-33, 49-53, 69-66.

Second Game
Ali’i 67 – Devero 18, Mendoza 16, Peredo 11, Velasco 6, De Leon 4, De Dios 3.
ICS Shooters 64 – Ong 14, Galarse 12, Brennan 11, Bisana 10, Inos 7, Namelo 4, Chariton 2, Ritual 2.
Scoring by quarters: 15-19, 35-30, 45-46, 67-64.