PTI claims first finals ticket

If Wednesday night’s semifinals game at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium between PTI and Northern Marianas College was a finals preview, spectators are up for an exciting title showdown in the Inaugural PTI Inter-Government/Business Basketball League.

PTI and NMC played the semifinals game in the winners’ bracket as if it was already a championship game, hustling for the loose ball, challenging every shot, leaping high for rebounds, and trading triples.

To complete the championship-like atmosphere, fans from both sides were busy cheering their team with PTI supporters even bringing a banner bearing the team’s name and using a megaphone to voice out their support to the telecommunication firm’s squad.

NMC fans had no cheering squad paraphernalia and instead used their bare hands in applauding their team and tapping the bleachers at the gym.

In a deafening game, center Kelvin Fitial silenced the crowd, particularly NMC supporters, hitting back-to-back baskets to lift PTI to a thrilling 94-90 victory.

The victory gave PTI the first finals berth.

Fitial’s four straight points came when NMC was threatening to grab the lead with less than four minutes remaining on the clock.

NMC moved within one, 82-83, after Joe Villacrusis split his charities. Earlier, Jerry Diaz muffed an easy layup which could have tied the game.

NMC had several opportunities to force a deadlock or even take the lead, but its shots just could not go through the basket.

Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero missed a triple and Mel Manibusan muffed an undergoal stab.

After a series of NMC misses, PTI got the possession and Fitial barreled his way against two NMC defenders, went for a fade away shot and made the basket before dropping to the floor.

NMC missed anew in the ensuing play, paving the way for a PTI fastbreak play with Fitial on the finishing end, giving PTI an 87-82 lead, with 1:13 left in the game.

Another NMC miss gave possession back to PTI with Fitial running the break and issuing a drop pass to Edsel Mendoza, who nailed an easy layup for PTI’s 89-82 lead with less than a minute left on the clock.

In NMC’s next offensive play, Mark Wallace muffed a triple, but redeemed himself by stealing the ball from Mendoza and making a layup to cut PTI’s lead to five, 84-89, with 49 seconds left in the game.

NMC had an opportunity to move closer after a PTI backcourt violation, but Wallace, who was sprinting to their frontcourt, passed the ball to the wrong guy with Mendoza on the receiving end.

NMC fouled Mendoza to stop the clock and gave up three more fouls in the succeeding plays. PTI put the icing on the cake, hitting 5-for-6 from the stripe.

The PTI-NMC game was played in spurts in the first three quarters.

A 11-2 run in the first gave PTI its biggest lead, 24-11. But NMC answered with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to six at the end of the first period.

The first half ended with PTI hanging on to a four-point cushion, 45-41.

PTI was still in control of the game, 57-53, until NMC launched a 12-0 attack to steal the driver’s seat, 65-57, with less than three minutes left in the third quarter.

But PTI had a 7-0 windup with Ryan Sanciangco scoring five straight points to give his team a 72-65 lead, entering the payoff period.

The fourth quarter had NMC playing catch-up, but could not complete a come-from-behind win, as the Rufino Aguon-mentored team took too many outside shots and missed easy layups.

The victory was sweet revenge for PTI, which lost this year’s pennant to NMC. PTI and NMC finished the regular season with identical 10-1 records, but the latter claimed the pennant after beating the former in the elimination round, 89-82.

Now, NMC has to win against the victor of Department of Corrections-Autonomous game to earn a rematch with PTI.

PTI’s backcourt tandem, which was composed of Sanciangco and Elmer Esdrelon outscored the NMC pair of Joe Villacrusis and Jose Tumaquip, 37-19.

The rest of NMC’s starters—Wallace, Manibusan, and Gyles Ruluked—outgunned the PTI trio of Fitial, Mendoza, and Bruce Berline, 56-49. But Wallace carried most of the load in NMC’s scoring, making 45 markers, as Ruluked and Manibusan were held to six and five markers, respectively. Fitial had 22 points, Mendoza chipped in 18, and Berline nearly scored in double figures with nine.

In the first game, Corrections kept its finals bid alive after ousting the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, 81-70.
[B] First Game[/B]

DOC 81 – Blas 18, Quitugua 17, Mendez 17, Iguel 12, Mendiola 11, Castro 4.

DCCA 70 – P. Camacho 28, Van Buren 19, Dela Cruz 10, Rangamar 7, Benavent 4, J. Camacho 2.

Scoring by quarters: 15-20, 36-40, 61-56, 81-70.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Gilbert Espinosa.
[B] Second Game[/B]

PTI 94 – Fitial 22, Sanciangco 21, Mendoza 18, Esdrelon 16, Berline 9.

NMC 90 – Wallace 45, Tumaquip 12, Villacrusis 7, Diaz 6, Ruluked 6, Manibusan 5.

Scoring by quarters: 24-18, 45-41, 72-65, 94-90.

Referees: Dado Vistal ad Gilbert Espinosa.