Southern Sonics manhandle Suns to remain unbeaten

The Southern Sonics extended their winning run to four, routing the Suns, 82-52, Friday night in the Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Suns showed their brighter side only in the first half when they kept the Sonics within striking distance, trailing by only 11, 25-36.

But in the second half, the Sonics sealed the Suns’ gloomy fate, pulling away en route to a 30-point demolition.

Leo Galarse led the Sonics’ breakaway in the second half, scoring nine straight points in the early part of that period. He finished with 13 points and was the Sonics’ second-best scorer for the night.

Augustine Hocog paced the Sonics with 14 points, making most of his contributions in the first period.

Two other Sonics players scored in double figures, giving coach Jesse Tudela more options on offense after the departure of main gunner of Manuel Ajoste. Tristan Ecalnea, who fired 23 points in the Sonics 71-56 hammering of the Chalan Kanoa Saints, had another impressive game, nailing 12 markers. Manuel’s younger brother, Bryan chipped in 11, while the rest of the Sonics bench combined for 23 markers.

The Suns’ Anthony Salas drilled eight points off the bench and was the only second stringer on coach Kuki Pangelinan’s roster to make it into the scoreboard.

Jimmy Brel led the Suns with 14 points, making all of them in the second half, but these were not enough to prevent his team from dropping to a 0-2 record. Josh Kiyoshi added 13.

The Suns played with only eight players and drew points from only six, as they were clearly overpowered by the much deeper lineup of the Sonics.

The lead put the Sonics two wins ahead of second placer the G-Rollers I, who is the only other unbeaten team in the 18-and-under league.

The CNMI Junior Nationals are slowly working their way up to the ladder, having won two of their last three games to claim the No. 3 spot.

In fourth place are the Kotenders, who dropped two of their last four games, followed by the G-Stars (0-2), Suns (0-2) and the G-Rollers II (0-3).

Sonics 82 – Hocog 14, Galarse 13, Ecalnea 12, Ajoste 11, Salas 7, Chan 6, Villanueva 5, Dela Cruz 5, Cadiang 5, Salem 2.

Suns 52 – Brel 14, Kiyoshi 13, A. Salas 8, M. Lisua 6, R. Lisua 5, Yamada 5.

Scoring by quarters: 36-25, 82-52.

Referees: Gilbert Espinosa and Arnold Mesa.