Armatech keeps clean slate

Armatech’s Rommel Bartolo (32), is fouled by I Love Saipan’s Leo Ruluked, left, during the third quarter of their game in the Emon Lodge-Pacific Cup last Monday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The victory was third in as many games for Armatech, putting the team in a tie for first place with idle Blue Haus. I Love Saipan absorbed its third loss in as many matches, as it failed to overhaul an early double-digit deficit with its shorthanded roster.

I Love Saipan played with only five players at the start of the match before Peter Camacho came in past the halfway mark of the second half. Armatech capitalized on I Love Saipan’s depleted crew, pushing the ball hard right at the buzzer to escape with fastbreak layups and open look jumpers and take a 24-10 advantage. James Abuy threw most of Armatech’s jabs in the first canto, matching the entire output of I Love Saipan.

A resurgent I Love Saipan then showed up in the second canto with Junior Renguul leading the team’s comeback bid. Renguul, who scored only two points in the first period, came out smoking in the second frame, firing 11. Three other I Love Saipan made it to the board in the second quarter, as they outgunned Armatech, 25-19, to bring the deficit down to eight at halftime, 43-35.

I Love Saipan moved within three in the third, 45-48, with Renguul draining pull-up jumpers and Dave Demapan escaping past his much slower defender for a couple of layups. However, Bernard Montano scored a string of six points late in the third and counter Camacho’s successive baskets to give Armatech more cushion, 68-59, entering the fourth period.

In the final canto, fatigue took its toll on the six-man I Love Saipan crew, while Armatech’s guards had some gas left for the breakaway. Martin Moreno helped Armatech pull away, drilling nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter. He, Abuy, and Montano combined for more than half of Armatech’s total production. Montano led all scorers with his 26 points, while Abuy contributed 22.

Renguuil had 21 for the winless I Love Saipan. Demapan chipped in 15, while Leo Ruluked and Camacho also fnished in twin digits with 14 and 13, respectively. Ruben Sahagun was the fifth I Love Saipan player to break into double figures with 11, while Luis Ngiraikelau completed the team’s box score with his two markers.

Armatech 95 – Montano 26, Abuy 22, Moreno 15, Ebuen 8, Bartolo 6, Malasarte 6, Gatdula 6, Tolentino 3.

I Love Saipan 79 – Renguul 21, Demapan 16, Ruluked 14, Camacho 13, Sahagun 11, Ngiraikelau 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-10, 43-35, 68-57, 95-79.