Hyatt routs Aqua in TDHC cage finals

[B]TINIAN[/B]—Hyatt Regency Saipan won the championship of the Inaugural Budweiser Tinian Dynasty Invitational Inter-Hotel Basketball League after dominating the title game that drew a jam-packed crowd Monday night at the Tinian Municipal Gymnasium.

The winner-take-all finals was expected to be a slam-bang affair, but Hyatt controlled the game from the get-go and defeated a visibly overmatched Aqua Resort Club team, 100-75.

National player Jericho Cruz scattered 30 points and was easily chosen the best player of the championship game. He also snatched the most valuable player plum of the season.

Cruz said they were optimistic coming into the game, but they did not expect it to be so easy.

Aside from Cruz, Hyatt also drew big games from Bernard Aquino, Chris Arreza, Jack Lizama, and Hiro Yamamoto.

Aquino, who won the best in assists award, scored the game’s first four points to spark Hyatt’s amazing championship performance.

He scored nine points in the first quarter and finished the game with 15.

Arreza made four in the second quarter and nine in the fourth, while Lizama and Yamamoto added nine points each.

Hyatt had a 23-15 lead after the opening quarter but it was in the second that it pulled away with a 22-point lead, scoring 44 against Aqua Resort’s 17.

Cruz continued to shred the defense of Aqua by scoring eight, while Yamamoto and Arreza had four in a 16-4 blast, as Hyatt erected its biggest lead of 27 points, 89-62, with four minutes to go in the fourth period.

Other members of the champion team are Bruce Berline, Frank Crisostomo, Dexter Dillay, Kiem Eina, Yosh Gabaldon, Gino Libuw, Arman Magno, Nathaniel Mateo, Edmark Mendoza, Michael Umali, Bobby Vargas, and Joel Villanueva.

Kevin Fitial, who won the Best in Defense award, led Aqua Resort with 24. Gil Gapor and Gyles Ruluked added 12 apiece, while Glen Aquino came up with nine.

It was the worst game for Aqua Resort in the inaugural season of the Tinian caging. In fact, the Achugao-based hotel won over Hyatt during their preliminary match-up.

Both are looking forward to meeting in the finals again in June for the upcoming HANMI Cup basketball league.

The two teams’ championship rivalry dates back to 2006 during the inaugural season of HANMI with Aqua Resort winning the title.

In Tinian, Hyatt was ranked first after the single-round robin elimination phase with its 4-1 record, while Aqua Resort finished in second place with a 3-2 slate.

Hyatt advanced to the finals after beating Pacific Islands Club, 96-92, while Aqua Resort defeated Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan/Saipan Grand Hotel, 97-92.

Earlier in the day, PIC settled for the third place plum, as it dashed a spirited comeback attempt by Fiesta/Grand, which erased an 18-point deficit, but ran out of gas at the end.

Ryan Sanciangco scored 48 points to lead PIC past Fiesta/Grand. Darwin Barbo added 21.

Later in the night, players and fans held a barbecue party before the awarding ceremony led by Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino general manager Tom Liu and officers of Club TDHC that included Noel Sabordo (president), Kiri Jackson (vice president), and Arceli Funtanar (secretary).

Liu expressed appreciation to participants and organizers for a successful conduct of the league while Club TDHC promised a better tournament next year.

[B]First Game[/B]

PIC 100 – Sanciangco 48, Barbo 22, Williams 10, Abuy 8, Kaipat 8, Pepito 4.

Fiesta/Grand 96 – Cadagat 49, Esdrelon 16, Usi 11, Sabino 10, Ong 3.

Scoring by quarters: 24-21, 47-42, 78-64, 100-96.

[B]Second Game[/B]

Hyatt 100 – Cruz 30, Aquino 15, Arreza 13, Yamamoto 9, Lizama 9, Libuw 6, Magno 4, Berline 3, Mendoza 3, Gabaldon 2, Mateo 2, Umali 2, Vargas 2.

Aqua Resort 75 – Fitial 24, Ruluked 12, Gaport 12, Aquino 9, Estolas 6, Achas 6, Johanes 4, Camacho 2

Scoring by quarters: 23-15, 54-32, 72-54, 100-75.