Blue Haus advances to masters finals

Blue Haus’s Alex Lauron goes up for a fastbreak layup as teammate Bruce Berline trails on the play in their masters division game against Blue Eagle in the 2nd Annual Saipan Centennial Lions Basketball League last Tuesday night at the Civic Center Basketball Court.(MARK RABAGO)(

Blue Haus pulled away from Blue Eagle/Royal Pacific in the second half to book the first finals ticket in the masters division of the 2nd Annual Saipan Centennial Lions Basketball League with a 76-67 win last Tuesday night at the Civic Center Basketball Court.

In a battle of nearly same name teams, Blue Haus and Blue Eagles were tied seven times in the first half before the latter got some wiggle room in the third quarter. 

Blue Haus took the first quarter, 19-16, following a late 3-pointer from Junar Guiab.

However, Blue Eagle responded with gusto in the second quarter with Andrew Ashburn firing 8 points as both teams were tied at the half, 35-all.

Blue Haus took the bull by the horns at the start of the second half and got contributions from up and down the roster and as a result opened up a 57-49 lead going into the fourth and final quarter.

Ol’Aces center Dennis Mendiola attempts a 3-pointer against the defense of A’s Car Aircon’s Cecilio Bisana as Jorge De Guzman looks on in their masters division game in the 2nd Annual Saipan Centennial Lions Basketball League last Tuesday night at the Civic Center Basketball Court.(MARK RABAGO)

Both teams started the payoff period unable to hit the broadside of a barn with Blue Haus’ full-court pressure and man-to-man defense exacting a toll on Blue Eagle’s offensive sets. The latter’s size, meanwhile, bothered the former on its forays toward the basket. 

Then back-to-back triples by J.R. Barrios with 6:49 left in the match shoved Blue Haus to a 64-49 lead.

Blue Eagle retaliated with a 14-6 run to whittle down Blue Haus’ advantage to 70-63, but Tony Diaz got away with a fastbreak layup to make it 72-63 with time down to 1:29 and that was all she wrote.

Veteran point guard Elmer Esdrelon led Blue Haus with 19 points, while Barrios and Guiab added 14 points apiece. 

Ashburn burned the hoops for 27 points, but had little help outside the 11 markers of Joel Javier. 

Blue Eagle now faces Ol’Aces for the second finals spot in the 40-and-over league after the Oleai team beat top seed A’s Car Aircon, 81-73.

Sen. Dennis Mendiola (R-Rota) turned back the hands of time leading Ol’Aces with 22 points, while Ben Pelisamen more than made up for the absence of his suspended brother, Freddie, by punching in 21 markers. 

Cecilia Bisana was impressive in the loss against Ol’Aces, leading A’s Car Aircon with 18 points, while Edmundo Basi chipped in 16 markers. Sniper Bernard Montano struggled all game long and wound up with a paltry 8 points.

The SCLC league resumed last night with Martech-Ol’Aces taking on The Game for the last finals spot in the open division, while the Ol’Aces-Blue Eagle semifinals is set for tonight. 

First Game
Ol’Aces 81 – Mendiola 22, Pelisamen 21, Libuw 16, George 8, Iginoef 9, Rangamar 4, D. Joab 1.
A’s Car Aircon 73 – Bisana 18, Basi 16, De Guzman 13, D. Tibayan 9, Montano 8, Fundador 6, Pangelinan 2, Manabat 1.
Scoring by quarters: 25-17, 50-41, 68-57, 81-73.

Second Game
Blue House 76 – Esdrelon 19, Barrios 14, Guiab 14, Lauron 10, Diaz 7, Aitogue 4, Berline 3, Santos 3, De Dios 2.
Blue Eagle/Royal Pacific 67 – Ashburn 27, Javier 11, Reign 8, Jandoc 7, Estolas 7, Villarin 4, Mendiola 3.
Scoring by quarters: 19-16, 35-35, 57-49, 76-67.