Sonics hammer Saints for third win in Rotary caging

The Southern Sonics hardly felt the absence of top gunner Manuel Ajoste, as they demolished the Chalan Kanoa Saints, 91-56, in the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Sonics played their first game sans Ajoste, who left Monday morning for Texas to join the military. The Sonics shooting guard averaged 13.5 points in the team’s 2-0 start in the 18-and-under caging.

Manuel’s sibling, Bryan filled the void left by his older brother on the Sonics’ offense, scoring 15 points.

But the biggest contribution came from Tristan Ecalnea, who wanted to prove he is worthy of a slot on the team. Ecalnea played for the Junior Sonics in the Rotary caging last season and was elevated to the club’s senior team this year.

He played in the Sonics’ two games, but was hardly a factor in the team’s two victories. In the Sonics’ 71-64 win over the CNMI Junior Nationals, the burly Ecalnea had only five points. Several Sonics players had a field day on offense in their 81-48 spanking of the G-Stars, but Ecalnea failed to rise to the occasion, making only two points.

Against the Saints, Ecalnea finally showed what stuff he is made of, exploding for 23 points.

Nine other Sonics players contributed on offense, outscoring the Saints bench.

The Saints had only Luizi Reyes scoring in double figures with 30. Their next best scorer was Jay Mafnas with eight.

Overall the Saints’ bench combined for only eight points. The Sonics drew 33 points from their second stringers.

The Saints were still in the game after the first half, trailing by only 11, 35-24, as Luigi Reyes found his marks early, firing 14 points in the first 20 minutes of the match.

But the Sonics broke the game wide open in the second half with Ecalnea leading the attack. The Saipan Southern High School sophomore, who had only five points in the first half, scored the Sonics’ first 10 points in the second half to lift his team to their third straight win in as many games.

Leo Galarse teamed up with Ecalnea in leading the Sonics’ breakaway in the second half, drilling nine of his 11 points in that period.

The victory put the Sonics in solo lead, a win ahead of the G-Rollers I.

The Saints played only their first game of the season. They were the latest addition to the league and were supposed to debut against the G-Stars last Friday, but a power outage forced the cancellation of the game.

Sonics 91 – Ecalnea 23, Ajoste 15, Galarse 11, Salem 9, Cadiang 7, Chan 7, Hocog 5, Metran 4, Masga 4, Eclevia 2, Dela Cruz 2.

Saints 56 – L. Reyes 30, Manas 8, Masga 5, Norita 4, Iglesias 3, Lizama 3, Cruz 2, Nedlic 1.

Scoring by halves: 35-24, 91-56.

Referees: Connie Camacho and Arnold Mesa.