CTSI, 670 Sonics XVIII prevail

CTSI’s Angie Ito, center, is sandwiched by Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan’s Britany Wally, left, and Paulynn Joyce during the first half of their game in the 2017 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament last Monday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

CTSI and 670 Sonics XVIII recorded contrasting victories in the final pair of matches in the 2017 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament last Monday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

In the girls division, CTSI downed Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, 47-34, while in the boys division, 670 Sonics XVIII edged Kanoa Resort, 52-48.

CTSI played better offense in the second half for its 14-point winning margin against Fiesta Resort, which absorbed back-to-back losses after sweeping its first four matches. CTSI and Fiesta Resort now hold identical 4-2 records to tie for second place behind the unbeaten GSM Lady Ol’Aces (5-0).

Ahead by only 6 at halftime, 21-15, Madi Alegre used her height advantage to score easy baskets in the paint and lead CTSI’s breakaway in the second half. Alegre drilled all her 10 points in the final 20 minutes of the match, making 6 straight markers early in the second half.

Mary Kay Alferos also stepped up in the final frame, logging 6 of her 9 markers, while Dianne Pablo was the other double figure scorer for CTSI with 10. Nana Watanabe, Chanel Espinosa, and Angie Ito also provided support to their gunners after combining for 13 more points for CTSI.

Irish Pagarao led Fiesta Resort with her 16 points and did not receive enough help from her teammates.

Meanwhile, in the boys division game, 670 Sonics XVIII knocked in clutch free throws to escape past Kanoa Resort.

670 Sonics XVIII’s last 4 markers all came from the foul line with Rafael Domini Ordona making a pair from the stripe and Emmanuel Cobacha and Matthew Kapileo splitting their charities. Khristian Itaas also hit important baskets for 670 Sonics XVIII, recording 7 straight points, including the squad’s final three field goals.

Itaas top-scored for 670 Sonics XVIII with his 12 markers, while his four other teammates contributed at least 5 points each in the hard-earned win. 670 Sonics XVIII now has a 4-1 record to take the solo second place behind the undefeated M&M Salas Ol’Aces (4-0), while Kanoa fell to fourth with its 3-2 slate.

Sun Palace is in solo third with its 3-1 mark, while 670 Sonics XVI (1-3), 670 Sonics XVII (1-3), Saipan Vegas Elite (1-3), and Saipan Vegas Extreme (0-4) complete the field.

Girls Division
CTSI 47— M. Alegre 10, Pablo 10, Alferos 9, Watanabe 5, Espinosa 4, Ito 4.
Fiesta Resort 34 — Pagarao 16, Francisco 6, Tuazon 5, Joyce 4, Avelino 3.
Scoring by halves: 21-15, 47-34.

Boys Division
670 Sonics XVIII 52 — Francisco 12, Diaz 7, Kapileo 7, Tengco 6, Rafols 5, Ordona 4, Cobacha 4, Malasarte 2, De Guzman 2, Kintaro 2.
Kanoa Resort 48 — Ellama 16, Deleon Guerrero 12, Gamab 7, Yun 4, Kizer 4, Tenorio 3, Santos 2, Muna 2.
Scoring by halves: 24-23, 52-48