CHC, NMSA open playoffs with wins

The Commonwealth Health Center’s Sam Fernandez, left, attempts to dribble past the defense of Customs’ John Sablan during their playoff game in the 2014 IT&E-DYS Inter-government Basketball League last Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Jon Perez)

CHC almost squandered a 13-point halftime lead but made the necessary stops in the final moments of the game to beat Customs, 68-65, while NMSA held Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to a season-low 5 points in the second period in coasting to a 72-58 win in the second game.

CHC erected a 35-22 lead at the turn, but allowed Customs to slowly chip away the deficit, and even gave its opponent the chance to take a 61-54 edge with six minutes left in the final quarter.

A 10-1 exchange, behind Ray Culala’s back-to-back jumpers, had CHC regaining the lead at 64-62 with 2:56 left in the game clock.

The opposing teams then traded missed shots and turnovers after that with Adrian Flores breaking the drought with a strong drive underneath to push CHC’s lead to 66-62 with the time down to 2:09.

A Luizi Reyes putback off a John Sablan miss at the other end moved Customs within 2, with 1:55 left.

However, Flores answered quickly to seal CHC’s victory as Anthony Rajo’s presence forced Customs to change its shots underneath.

Jason Bahillo paced CHC with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals, while Culala added 12 markers and Flores scored 10, grabbed 12 boards, and had 3 assists.

Leo Galarse led Customs’ losing cause with 21 points and 6 rebounds, while Kelvin Fitial contributed 17 markers and 5 caroms.

CHC had more assists, 10-4, and enjoyed a huge 44-26 advantage in rebounds. Customs failed to capitalize on its 11 steals.

In the second game, Preston Basa buried four of his seven 3-pointers in the second period to help NMSA pull away from a 14-12 tally in the opening canto. NMSA outscored CUC in the second quarter, 17-5, to end the half with a 31-17 advantage. NMSA was hardly threatened after that to cruise to victory.

Basa finished with a game-high 21 points, while Peter Camacho and Ezra Caro contributed 19 and 13 markers, respectively.

Tony Diaz led CUC with 16 points, while Robert Lieto added 11 and John Santos ended up with 10

First Game
CHC 68–Bahillo 18, Culala 12, Flores 10, B. Ajoste 7, Nunag 7, O. Ajoste 6, Rajo 6, Marilla 2.

Customs 65–Galarse 21, Fitial 17, Lizama 6, Lus. Reyes 6, Teregeyo 6, Lui. Reyes 5, Cepeda 2, Pangelinan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-10, 35-22, 54-52, 68-65.

Second Game
NMSA 72–Basa 21, P. Camacho 19, Caro 13, Rangamar 6, Babauta 4, Sablan 3, Fitial 2, Iginoef 2, Olopai 2.

CUC 58–Diaz 16, Lieto 11, Santos 10, Mizutani 6, Madracheluib 4, Masga 4, Simada 3, Benavente 2, Poquiz 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-12, 31-17, 48-35, 72-58. (Jon Perez)