CUC edges Saipan Ice, keeps playoff hopes alive

Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s Robert Lieto goes up for a reverse layup against Docomo Pacific’s Jaynard White during an earlier game in the JP World caging at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Commonwealth Utilities Corp. remained in contention for a playoff spot in the 2014 JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League after nosing out Saipan Ice & Water, 72-71, last Monday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

With the close victory, CUC gained a 3-4 record for sixth place in the team standings, pending the results of last night’s double-header. CUC is slightly ahead of Saipan Ice (2-4) and winless teams Top Development, Inc. (0-5) and Docomo Pacific (0-6), which are the two squads likely to get the early boot in the nine-team field. Only the Top 6 teams after the round-robin elimination will advance to the playoffs with the Top 2 automatically moving into the semis and the Nos. 3 to 6 squads battling for the two remaining Final Four seats.

CUC escaped with the crucial win after getting split free throws from John Santos and Iramk Simada in the homestretch, while Saipan Ice missed a chance to steal the win when Jerome Norita muffed a desperation trey at the buzzer.

It was a sorry loss for Saipan Ice, which controlled majority of the match and was still ahead by eight, 56-48, entering the fourth quarter.

CUC overhauled the deficit with Santos teaming up with Simada and Frank Mizutani in bringing their team back into the game. Santos scored 9 points in the fourth canto, Mizutani added 6, and Simada chipped in 5. Both Mizutani and Simada also hit important charities in the final canto, while Robert Lieto also helped CUC’s cause, making back-to-back field goals in the closing minutes of the match.

Norita, on the other hand, was held scoreless in the final half of the fourth frame after drilling three straight baskets at the start of the last canto. He still finished with a game-high 40 points, but with Saipan Ice absorbing its fourth loss, the team is pressed to prevail against Public School System (4-2) tonight and versus McDonald (3-3) on Nov. 3 to stay in the playoff hunt.

Meanwhile, Joeten is assured of a slot in the six-team playoff round and boosted is chances for the remaining outright semis berth after a 91-64 rout of Docomo last Friday.

Joeten, pending the results of its game against Top Development last night, improved its record to 5-2 for a share of the second spot with MBI/Anchor, which was also scheduled to play yesterday against slumping McDonald’s. Joeten is battling the last automatic semis ticket against PSS and MBI/Anchor, while unbeaten Shirley’s (6-0) took the first Final Four seat.

Joeten set up the rout against Docomo after pulling away in the second quarter. Docomo was still in the game after the first period down by only five, 14-19, when Joeten went on a 25-16 scoring surge to take the double-digit lead at the break, 44-25. Kevin De Leon, Alex Lauron, and Syl Teregeyo joined forces in the breakaway, scoring 6 points each.

Teregeyo went on to top-score for Joetyen with his 20 points, while Tony Diaz led Docomo’s losing cause, firing a game-high 27 markers.

FRIDAY
Joeten 91 – Teregeyo 20, Sambile 14, De Leon 11, Kwon 11, Lauron 9, Tobias 7, Borja 2, Jacob 2, Tudela 2, Teo 1.

Docomo 64 – Diaz 27, Sablan 9, Hayes 9, White 9, Sanciangco 8, Deleon Guerrero 4, Sanchez 1.

Scoring by quarters: 19-14, 44-29, 68-49, 91-64.

MONDAY
CUC 72 – Santos 23, Benavente 11, Simada 10, Mizutani 9, Lieto 8, Nunez 2, Camacho 2, Masga 2.

Saipan Ice 71 – Norita 40, Santy 14, Kaipat 9, Villanueva 4, Cayading 2, Pangelinan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-18, 33-38, 48-56, 72-71.