Ali’i vs I Love Saipan in DLX finals

Ali’i’ Kobe Mendoza drives and draws a foul on Gwap Gang’s Mike Ito during their playoff game in the DLX /IT&E caging last Wednesday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

I Love Saipan hammered Flip Top in the curtain raiser, 114-61, to clinch the first finals seat, while Ali’i bagged the second and last one, following a 74-68 triumph over Gwap Gang. The winner-take-all finals will be held tomorrow night at 8pm after the consolation match between Flip Top and Gwap Gang.

Ali’i weathered Gwap Gang’s third-quarter storm and played steady in the fourth quarter to advance to the finals. Ali’i threatened to pull away early in the second half after building a 44-26 advantage, but Gwap Gang fought back with a 19-4 scoring run in the next six minutes of the third period. Sean Rabasto, who came in for the foul troubled Rodney Sacramento, led the rally, drilling three triples with his third one cutting the deficit to three, 45-48. Raymond Velasco and Errol Peredo nailed the two field goals in Ali’i offensive breakdown and the former went on to add 3 more points in the closing seconds of the third period to give his team more breathing room, 53-47, going into the final canto.

Ivan Devero then opened the fourth quarter with 4 straight points to bring the lead back to twin digits and Ali’i hung in there to foul Gwap Gang’s repeated comeback bids. Gwap Gang moved to within 6 in the final one minute of the match off Lester Vertudez’s triple, 64-70, but Kobe Mendoza caught the opposing team’s defense napping and made a point-blank shot off Peredo’s inbound pass to seal the win for Ali’i.

Ali’i forced Gwap Gang to play catch up all night after earning an early double-digit spread after the first period, 20-10. Devero anchored Ali’i’s good start, matching Gwap Gang’s total production in the first quarter. He finished with a game-high 18 points to lead three other Ali’i players in double figures.

In the first game, I Love Saipan was on target from downtown and broke Flip Top’s back in the fourth quarter for the most lopsided win this season.

Despite enjoying a big 73-49 advantage, I Love Saipan showed no mercy to Flip Top in the fourth quarter, exploding for 41 big points, 18 of them came from 3-point shots. I Love Saipan earlier drained seven triples in the first half to dictate the tempo of the game.

Flip Top failed to make a counterattack against I Love Saipan, as the former’s offense became too predictable with Lerio Pagarao almost always having the ball on his hands. Pagarao was one of only two players on Flip Top’s side to score in twin digits. Jake Quitugua, the hero of their 70-69 upset over Gwap Gang, had 10 quiet points with his baskets scattered, as he had limited touches. The rest of Flip Top players contributed no more than 5 points each.

In contrast, I Love Saipan drew double figures from four different players and four others combined for 26 points. Mike Olaitiman paced I Love Saipan with 25 markers.

First Game
I Love Saipan 114 – M. Olaitiman 25, Sharry 21, Capalad 17, Pelisamen 11, Aldan 9, Ruluked 8, J. Olaitiman 5, R. Olopai 4.
Flip Top 61 – Pagarao 27, Quitugua 10, Barbo 5, Sablan 4, Isip 3, Jung 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-13, 50-32, 73-49, 114-61.

Second Game
Ali’i 74 – Devero 18, De Dios 11, Mendoza 11, Peredo 10, Demapan 8, Mateo 5, Hernandez 4, De Leon 3, Velasco 2.
Gwap Gang 68 – Deleon Guerrero 14, Fitial 14, Rabasto 11, Vertudez 7, Dela Rosa 6, Darag 4, Sacramento 3, Ito 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-10, 39-22, 53-47, 74-68.