Blue Haus still spotless; Armatech splits games

Armatech’s Rommel Bartolo pulls up for an uncontested jumper during their game against I Love Saipan in the first round of the Emon Lodge-Docomo Pacific Cup early this month at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Blue Haus kept its unbeaten record, following a 106-61 thrashing of I Love Saipan (0-6) in the second game last Wednesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. In the lone match last Monday, Armatech (4-2) also notched a lopsided win over the PIC Chefs (2-4), 92-57, before falling to Mariana Resort (5-1), 88-99, in last Wednesday’s curtain raiser.

George De Guzman led Mariana Resort’s 11-point win over Armatech with his 28 points. He scored 8 straight points in the fourth quarter that started with Mariana Resort ahead by only 5, 73-68. The big man finished the fourth canto with 11 markers and drew help from Jesse Stole, who tallied 6 in the payoff period, including the team’s last 4 markers. Jun Alipio also scored in streak with his string of 5 points in the homestretch to help Mariana Resort move up to solo second place in the team standings behind the unbeaten Blue Haus.

Blue Haus retained a clean slate and pounded the winless I Love Saipan after drilling 20-plus pinfalls in all four quarters of last Wednesday’s second match.

Five Blue Haus players made at least two field goal apiece right in the first period for a 26-18 lead and increased the advantage to double digits at the break, 49-35, as I Love Saipan failed to match its foe’s offensive firepower.

In the end, four Blue Haus players scored in twin digits against only two from I Love Saipan. Junar Guiab had 24 points for Blue Haus, which drew 11 from Edsel Mendoza. Ernie Moises and Tony Diaz chipped in 17 each. George Villasan led I Love Saipan with his 16 markers, while Frank Babauta contributed 10.

Meanwhile, last Monday’s only match saw Armatech dominating PIC Chefs from start to finish en route to the 35-point winning margin.

Five Armatech players teamed up in the rout with Raymund Tolentino leading the way for his squad, firing 16 points. Haejun Park added 14, while George Poquiz registered 12, and Martin Moreno and Bernard Montano logged 11 apiece.

MONDAY
Armatech 92 – Tolentino 16, Park 14, Poquiz 12, Moreno 11, Montano 11, Abuy 7, Malasarte 6, Bartolo 4, Gatdula 4.

PIC Chefs 57 – J. Tabora 22, Catacutan 9, Sublemente 8, Catalla 7, Novo 3, Fernandez 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-11, 41-25, 53-38, 91-57.

WEDNESDAY
First Game
Mariana Resort 99 – De Guzman 28, Galulu 18, Stole 14, Alipio 10, Pineda 8, Cosino 8, Cortez 3, Garcia 2, de la Torre 2.

Armatech 88 – Abuy 21, Park 14, Montano 13, Tobias 8, Poquiz 6, Pablo 6, Tolentino 5, Moreno 4, Malasarte 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-24, 49-41, 73-68, 99-88.

Second Game
Blue Haus 106 – Guiab 24, Mendoza 22, Diaz 17, Moises 17, F. Palacios 7, Berline 6, Pangelinan 4, Manabat 2, G. Palacios 2, Factor 2.

I Love Saipan 61 – Villasan 16, Babauta 10, Rangamar 9, Renguul 8, Sahagun 6, Kobel 6, Demapan 4.

Scoring by quarters: 26-18, 48-35, 77-49, 106-61.