Fiesta/Grand, PIC make semis

Pacific Islands Club and Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan/Saipan Grand Hotel booked the two remaining semifinals tickets in the 2009 Budweiser Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino Invitational Basketball League after winning the last pair of games in the regular season Monday night at the Tinian Municipal Gymnasium.

PIC slipped past Saipan World Resort, 90-85, in the first match, while Fiesta/Grand outclassed host Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino, 86-78, in the second game.

At the end of the regular season, these four teams finished with identical 2-3 records. To break the tie, the technical committee added points accumulated by each team in three games with the top two squads earning the last two semis slots.

Fiesta scored 101 points against PIC, 100 against Saipan World Resort, and 86 against Tinian for a total of 287 points. PIC tallied 263 points after getting 82 points against Fiesta/Grand, 91 against Tinian, and 90 against Saipan World Resort.

Saipan World Resort finished only third after accumulating 260 points (72, 103, and 85), while Tinian ended in last place with a total of 251 points (68, 105, and 78).

PIC and Fiesta/Grand will join Hyatt Regency Saipan and Aqua Resort Club in the semifinal round, which will be played this Monday.

Hyatt finished the regular season on top of the field with a 4-1 record. Hyatt absorbed its lone loss at the hands of Aqua Resort on Feb. 23, 98-100.

Aqua Resort is seeded second in the playoffs with its 3-2 record. Aqua’s losses were against Tinian, 94-95, and PIC, 98-108.

PIC dropped its first three games in the league, but won its last two to advance to the next round. The San Antonio-based PIC bowed to Hyatt, 94-107, Tinian, 91-105, and Fiesta/Grand, 92-101.

Fiesta/Grand won two of its last three matches to notch a semis seat. Fiesta/Grand lost its debut against Aqua Resort Club, 73-85, and also bowed to Hyatt, 90-93. Fiesta/Grand ended its two-game losing skid with a 101-92 triumph over PIC, but faltered, anew in their fourth match against Saipan World Resort, 100-103, before closing out the regular season with an eight-point win over Tinian.

In Monday’s semifinal round, the pairing will be Hyatt versus PIC and Aqua against Fiesta/Grand. Winners of the two semis matches will battle for the championship on April 13.

PIC 90 – Sanciangco 28, Barbo 25, Abuy 16, Novo 10, Babauta 8, Tolentino 3.

Saipan World Resort 85 – Bernardo 20, Abuel 19, Basila 16, Vinas 7, Schinieder 5, Navarro 4, Ramos 2, Tabamo 2.

Scoring by quarters: 26-13, 45-30, 71-64, 90-85.

Fiesta/Grand 86 – Cadagat 33, Esdrelon 30, Opone 8, Usi 8, Palero 4, Macoto 2, Carino 1.

Tinian 78 – Fernandez 27, Ri. Reyes 17, Sabordo 13, Flores 9, Cajayon 5, Manalo 2, Ramirez 2, RJ Reyes 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-19, 37-42, 59-58, 86-78.