Basa still leads scoring race in business caging

Public School System gunner Preston Basa is still ahead in the battle among scoring leaders in the 2015 Inter-Commercial Business Basketball League.

In eight games in the round-robin regular season, Basa has averaged 26.75 points as he compiled 214 points in PSS’ five wins and three losses. The Marianas High School teacher leads Docomo Pacific’s Tony Diaz and Saipan Ice & Water’s Patrick Rotap. Diaz also earned a 20-plus point average with his 22.75 in eight games (182 points), while Rotap is not far behind with his 22.16 points per game average in six games (133 points).

Basa also leads the league in 3-point baskets made, as he has knocked in 47 triples for an average of 5.86 per match. Rotap barged into the Top 3 as he is in second place with his 15 treys in six games and 2.50 average. Pacific Islands Club’s Jack Aranda was bumped off from the second spot, but stayed in contention with his 18 triples in eight games and 2.25 average.

In the assists department, there is a new leader in Fiesta Resort & Spa’s Elmer Esdrelon. The Fiesta captain’s 3.85 average off 27 feeds in seven games edged the 3.75 of erstwhile leader Jerry Diaz (30 assist in eight games) of PSS. IT&E’s Nate Mateo rounded out the Top 3 as he dislodged Joeten’s Syl Teregeyo after posting an average of 3.50 off his 28 assists in eight matches.

Meanwhile, Saipan Ice players are ahead in three other categories.

In the steals department, Joel Fernandez’s 4.50 average (27 in six games) puts him in first place against IT&E’s Jason Palacios (4.37 average off 35 steals in eight games) and Esdrelon (3.42 off 24 steals in seven games).

Fernandez’s teammate, Ben Olopai has averaged 2.16 blocks to lead three others. He has collected 13 blocks in six games to place ahead of teammate John Santy (1.83 average off 11 blocks in six games), IT&E’s Rick Sanchez and PSS’ Mel Manibusan, who posted similar 1.00 average (off eight blocks in eight games).

The lanky Santy used his height advantage to lord it over in the rebound department with his 12.16 average off 73 rebounds in six games. Joeten’s Alex Lauron has the most rebounds so far with 79 in eight games, but is only ranked second with his 9.87 average, while Olopai made it to the Top 3, averaging 9.66 caroms per game off his 58 boards on six matches.

The league is in the final stages of the regular season with PIC still unbeaten (8-0) and a win away from sweeping the elimination. PIC notched its eighth victory after prevailing against Fiesta, 97-92, in the battle of unbeaten teams last Thursday. Fiesta dropped to a 5-1 record, but is still in second place, followed by Mobil (5-2), PSS (5-3), Joeten (4-3), IT&E (4-4), Saipan Ice (2-4), Saipan Stevedore (2-6), Docomo (1-6), and MARPAC (0-9). Mobil moved up to third after slipping past PSS last week, 90-86.