NMC, Aguaguat slip past opponents

Northern Marianas College and Aguaguat wiggled through tough assignments in the continuation of the 2008 PTI Inter-Government Business Basketball League Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the nightcap, the Proas held Bank of Guam to a mere two points in overtime to squeeze out an 88-84 victory.

The game was tight from the opening tip with NMC taking a modest lead of 18-13 after the first quarter.

But BoG bounced back in the second quarter, outscoring Proa by 11 points to take a relatively comfortable 42-36 spread into the halftime break.

The seesaw battle carried over in the second half, as both teams exchanged the lead with NMC having the last say in the third and entered the fourth and final quarter ahead by the thinnest of margins, 61-60.

NMC and BoG battled through several ties in the payoff period, so it was just fitting that game go into overtime with both sides knotted up at 82-all.

The extra five minutes proved the hardest time to score, as NMC only managed to add six points to its total. But BoG was worse, as the bankers managed only a deuce to lose by four points.

Swingman Mark Wallace paced Proa with 31 points, while pint-sized Jose Tumaquip and Gyles Ruluked added 20 and 16 markers in the win, which was NMC’s fourth in five outings.

BoG, which dropped to 6-2, was led by the 31 of James Villacrusis. Randy Pelisamen also scored 28 in the loss.

In the opener, Dennis Reyes scored 23 points to help Aguaguat nail its second win against three loses following Customs’ 68-62 triumph against Commonwealth Ports Authority.

CPA started strong and took a 16-12 lead. But it was all Aguaguat from there, which took a 32-27 advantage at the half before settling for a 50-43 spread at the end of three quarters of play.

Reyes then teamed up with Ray Lizama in the payoff period, as the duo combined for 10 of the team’s final 18 points to give Aguaguat the four-point win.

John Paul Sablan and Jason Sablan were the only other Aguaguat players to finish in twin digits with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

CPA, which is still winless in three tries, was led by the 27 of Jerome Reyes, who was the only bright spot for the team.
[B] First Game[/B]

Aguaguat 68 – Reyes 23, J.P. Sablan 11, J. Sablan 10, J. Lizama 7, R. Lizama 5, Iguel 4, Camacho 3, Fejeran 3, Guerrero 2.

CPA 62 – Reyes 27, Joyner 8, Torres 8, Sablan 7, Ohel 6, Borja 2, Taitingfong 2, Cepeda 2.

Scoring by quarters: 12-16, 32-27, 50-43, 68-62.

Referees: Connie Camacho and Gilbert Espinosa.
[B] Second Game[/B]

NMC 88 – Wallace 31, Tumaquip 20, Ruluked 16, Diaz 11, Buniag 8, Manalili 2.

BoG 84 – Villacrusis 31, Pelisamen 28, Palacios 11, Taisacan 9, Lee 5.

Scoring by quarters: 18-13, 36-42, 61-60, 82-82, 88-84 (OT).

Referees: Michael White and Dado Vistal.