Close win for Lady Ol’Aces

The Lady Ol’Aces’ Jovie Omar, left, and Taz Deleon Guererro, right, trap Fiesta Resort’s Nanaka Watanabe during the third quarter of their women’s division game in the MIBF island-wide caging last Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Lia Rangamar scored 8 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Lady Ol’Aces to a 52-51 victory over Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan in the women’s division game in the 2018 MIBF Island-wide Basketball League last Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The win was third in as many games for the Lady Ol’Aces, putting them in the lead in the four-team field. Fiesta Resort, on the other hand, absorbed its second loss in three matches to remain in third place behind the Ol’Aces (2-1). The Docomo Rollers (0-3) complete the standings.

Rangamar’s total output in the payoff canto included the Lady Ol’Aces’ last 5 markers. She knocked in a triple and then a layup to seal the victory for her squad. Her other field goal in the final period was also a shot from downtown. The former CNMI National Team member went on to finish with a game-high 17 points.

It was a come-from-behind victory for the Lady Ol’Aces, who faced a 14-point deficit at the end of the first quarter, 10-24, before grabbing the lead late in the third period with Rangamar and Taz Deleon Guerrero leading the squad’s recovery. They combined for 9 points in the penultimate frame to give the Ol’Aces a 40-37 advantage, going into the final canto.

Fiesta started to collapse around the halfway mark of the third quarter, as it went scoreless for several minutes. It was held to a two field goals in the third period with Irish Pagarao drilling a triple early in that canto and Krizel Tuazon nailing a point-blank shot in the closing minute.

Fiesta then failed to get the lead back, as it could not contain Rangamar in the fourth period.

Pagarao matched Rangamar’s 17 markers, but the former was limited to two field goals in the fourth. Hale Kenty and Deleon Guerrero backed up Rangamar after recording 12 points each. Tuazon also finished in twin digits with her 11 markers.

Meanwhile, in the men’s division, the 670 Sonics made it two wins in a row after outclassing the Ol’Aces Extra, 82-69.

Matt Duenas exploded for 30 points to hand the 670 Sonics a double-digit winning margin.

Matt led the 670 Sonics’ strong start, as his 10 points in the first quarter lifted his squad to a 24-9 lead. Matt’s cousin, Ernest, also delivered for the 670 Sonics early in the game firing 7 of his 12 markers in the opening canto.

The 670 Sonics went on to keep big lead in the last three periods, as Matt continued to toy around with the defense of the Ol’Aces Extra and drew help from Melvin Cadiang, J.R. Ngeskebei, and Jaymark De Guzman.

Women’s Division
Lady Ol’Aces 52 — L. Rangamar 17, Kenty 12, Deleon Guerrero 12, Camacho 4, Castillo 3, K. Rangamar 2, Omar 2.
Fiesta Resort 51 — Pagarao 17, Tuazon 11, Watanabe 9, Alferos 8, Espinosa 2, Pablo 2.
Scoring by quarters: 10-24, 25-32, 40-37, 52-51.

Men’s Division
670 Sonics 82 — M. Duenas 30, E. Duenas 12, Cadiang 11, De Guzman 9, Ngeskebei 6, Aranda 5, Rabasto 4, Fidelino 2.
Ol’Aces Extra 69 — Rangamar 16, Jo. Santos 8, Nakashima 7, Ogumoro 7, Saures 5, Kim 6, Joyner 4, Secharmidal 4, Camacho 2, Je. Santos 2, Rogolifoi 1.
Scoring by quarters: 24-9, 46-22, 68-49, 81-69.