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Suns rise to snap skid in Rotary caging
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Posted on Sep 16 2008
The Suns broke into the win column in the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League after outclassing the Chalan Kanoa Saints, 43-38, Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
The victory was the Suns’ first in four games, while the loss was the Saints’ fourth in as many matches.
The Suns made up for their lackluster performance in the first three games with a good start against the Saints.
The Francis San Nicolas-coached squad fired 25 points in the first half and held the Saints to 10 markers to seize control of the game.
The Saints had only three players scoring in the first half with Zack Tudela nailing five, Ben Iglecias adding four, and Luizi Reyes making only a free throw.
The Suns had a balanced offense in the first half, getting contributions from eight players.
Tudela, Iglecias, and Josh Lizama tried to bring the Saints back into the game in the second half, but fell short, while timely baskets from Josh Kiyoshi foiled Chalan Kanoa’s repeated comeback bids.
Kiyoshi hit eight of his 13 points in the second half, and drew support from four other players who drilled at least one basket apiece to preserve the Suns’ win.
The victory moved the Suns two notches up from the cellar, as they are now ranked seventh among the nine teams in the league.
The Saints are second to the last with their 0-4 record, just a loss behind cellar-dweller Roller II, which is winless in five games.
The Sonics are leading the league with a perfect 5-0 record, followed by fellow unbeaten team, the San Antonio Sixers, which hold a 3-0 slate.
Defending champions CNMI Junior Nationals are currently in third place with a 3-1 record, Rollers I is in fourth with a 2-1 mark, while the Kontenders and G-Stars are tied four fifth with similar 2-2 records.
The G-Stars will go for their third win tonight when they duel the Rollers II.
The Sixers played the Kontenders last night with the former aiming to keep their record clean, but results of the match were unavailable at press time.
Suns 43 – Kiyoshi 13, Yamada 8, Maratita 6, Babauta 4, Calvo 3, Lisua 3, Salas 2.
Saints 39 – Tudela 14, B. Iglecias 9, Lizama 7, Manas 3, Reyes 1.
Scoring by halves: 25-10, 43-38.
Referees: Gabriel White and Arnold Mesa.
