Armatech, Mariana Resort enter semis

Armatech’s Bernard Montano escapes with a fastbreak layup during the fourth quarter of their playoff game against Degree in the Emon Lodge-Docomo Pacific Cup last Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Mariana Resort played in the first playoff game and ousted I Love Saipan, 91-67, while Armatech knocked off Degree in the second win-or-go-home match, 97-72.

Armatech walked away with a 15-point winning margin after Degree fell apart in the fourth quarter. Degree kept Armatech within striking distance after the third period, as Ariel Jinang’s buzzer-beating banked trey just a few feet past midcourt moved the former within 4 points, 59-63.

However, Jinang’s Hail Mary shot failed to spark a spirited Degree comeback in the fourth and instead Armatech broke away behind the guns of Bernard Montano and James Abuy. Montano kicked off the fourth with three straight short jumpers and he and Abuy went on to combine for 16 points in Armatech’s pivotal 18-3 run in the first six minutes of the payoff period. Former Degree player Dindo Pablo scored the other 2 points to seal it for Armatech, as the team took a comfortable 81-62 advantage past the halfway mark of the final frame.

Degree was lost in the exchange, as only Bobby Geli drilled a field goal in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, while Mike Surima had a split. Degree had a hard time orchestrating its offense, as Armatech hounded the former’s ball handlers right after the inbound plays from the backcourt. On several occasions that Degree managed to get away from Armatech’s backcourt pressure, the former had to take shots in a hurry to avoid incoming defenders.

Armatech continued to show no mercy in the last two minutes of the match despite having the win in the bag with its 20-plus point lead and went on to nail a 25-point winning margin, as Martin Moreno made a couple of easy baskets off Degree’s errors.

Abuy top-scored for Armatech with his 24 points, while Montano and Moreno chipped in 22 and 19, respectively. Jinang and Alex Ocampo had 20 apiece for Degree, but the latter was scoreless in the fourth, as he had limited touches with Armatech denying entry passes in the paint.

Meanwhile, in the first game, Mariana Resort ran a well-oiled offense to rout I Love Saipan.

The Boy Garcia-coached squad scored 20-plus points in all four quarters to advance to join Armatech and early qualifier Blue Haus in the semifinals. Mariana Resort tallied 22 points each in the first two periods for a 44-35 halftime lead and was never threatened in the second half, as it logged 21 and 26 in the third and fourth, respectively. I Love Saipan, in contrast, failed to hit the 20-point mark, having its best output (19) in the second.

Five Mariana Resort players finished in twin digits with Dennis Cortez leading the way with his 19 points, while Elias Rangamar paced I Love Saipan with his 16 markers.

Mariana Resort, Blue Haus, and Armatech now await the winner of tonight’s playoff game between Hawaiian Rock and PIC Chefs to start the semis round. In the semis, teams will draw lots to determine the pairings with the No. 1 and 4 squads colliding in the first Final Four tiff and the No. 2 and 3 teams dueling in the other semis showdown.

First Game
Mariana Resort 91 – Cortez 19, De Guzman 16, Alipio 12, Cosino 11, Galulu 10, Garcia 6, de la Torre 4, Montes 3, Abuan 2.

I Love Saipan 67 – Rangamar 16, Babauta 14, Kobel 12, Demapan 10, Renguul 6, Sahagun 5, Villasan 4.

Scoring by quarters: 22-16, 44-35, 65-53, 91-67.

Second Game
Armatech 97 – Abuy 24, Montano 22, Moreno 19, Bartolo 8, Park 8, Tobias 7, Poquiz 6, Pablo 3.

Degree 72 – Jinang 20, Ocampo 20, Surima 11, Geli 10, Sampang 6, Catungal 4.

Scoring by quarters: 27-15, 48-43, 63-59, 97-72.