Sixers hand Rollers I first loss

The San Antonio Sixers prevailed against the Rollers I in an erratic game in the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League Friday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Both teams tried to outrun each other, oftentimes losing control and although it was an exciting game with neither team leading by as much as 10 points before the Sixers pulled away in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter.

The match was painful to the eyes as players lost the ball several times, missed layups, and committed dribbling and other violations. Forty-eight fouls were called in the game, the most this season, as players from both teams failed to control their momentum, banging bodies with their foes and even with their teammates.

In the end, the Sixers leaned on their offense and decent free throw shooting to offset their erratic game.

The Ray Duenas-mentored squad was given 10 free throws in the last three minutes of the match and made half of them to preserve a seven-point win.

The Rollers I had more trips from the 15-foot line than the Sixers, but drilled only five to absorb their first loss in three games.

The Sixers remain the only other unbeaten team in the league with their 3-0 record.

The win gave the Sixers the solo second spot behind league-leading Southern Sonics, who hold a 5-0 mark.

Ernest Duenas paced the Sixers with 17 points, making consistent contribution throughout game. He had seven markers in the first half and added eight in the second.

Joe Ada nailed all his 10 points in the first half to give San Antonio a 27-26 halftime lead. Ada went cold in the second half, as he committed several errors and muffed layups.

But Matt Duenas and Novo Pepito were there to provide support to Ernest in the second half and secure the win for the Sixers.

Manny Matagolai led the Rollers I’s losing cause, firing 15 points, but he had only four points in the second half and they came when the game was already decided.

Jomar Danas and Don Teregeyo chipped in 12 and 11 markers, respectively.

Sixers 61 – E. Duenas 17, M. Duenas 10, Ada 10, Benavente 8, Agtarap 6, Pepito 6, Flores 2, Salas 2

Rollers I 54 – Matagolai 13, Danas 12, Teregeyo 11, Castro 6, Deleon Guerrero 4, Paez 3, Concepcion 2, Ogarto 2, Camacho 1.

Scoring by quarters: 27-26, 61-54.

Referees: Gabriel White and Arnold Mesa.