Fiesta beats POI, takes solo lead

Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan’s Peter Magat, left, hounds POI Aviation’s Ramsa Tenepere, while teammate Joseph Villamena, right, stays close on defense during their game in the 2017 Tan Holdings Inter-Company Basketball League last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan won the battle of undefeated teams after easing past POI Aviation, 70-53, in the nightcap in the 2017 Tan Holdings Inter-Company Basketball League last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

With the victory, Fiesta moved up to solo first place with its 4-0 record, while POI dropped to a 3-1 mark for second place, tying Kanoa Resort. The defending champion Kanoa gained its third win after downing Saipan Tribune (1-2) in the curtain-raiser, 56-44, while Shirley’s Coffee Shop broke into the win following a 72-54 triumph in the second match against Lower Base (0-4).

Fiesta was all business right at the start of the game and leaned on its much deeper roster to gain contribution from multiple players and build a 37-26 halftime lead. POI faces a double-digit deficit at the end of the first half, as only Nak Nakashima and Jesse Santos hit more than one field goal for the squad in the opening 20 minutes of play.

It was still a Nakashima show in the second half, while Fiesta continued its balance scoring and also drew solid offense from Lerio Pagarao to keep the big margin. Pagarao had a team-high 20 points, while Nakashima led all scorers with his 28.

In the first game, Douglas Schmidt and Dindo Pablo teamed up in lifting Kanoa past Saipan Tribune.

Schmidt finished with 23 points, while Pablo added 19, as Kanoa delivered in the second half after falling behind by a deuce at the break.

In the second match, John Jugos fired up Shirley’s offense with his early triples, while Junar Guiab and Angel Catungal provided support in the second half to end the team’s two-game skid.

Jugos scored 17 points, including 12 straight markers off his shots from downtown in the opening minutes of the game. Guiab led Shirley’s with his 19 markers, while Catungal chipped in 13.
With Jugos on target and Guiab also hitting baskets in streaks, Shirley’s took a 39-18 halftime lead and never looked back to hand Lower Base its third loss in as many games.

First Game
Kanoa Resort 56 — Schmidt 23, Pablo 19, Encarna 8, Lumauag 4, Tam 2.
Saipan Tribune 44 — D. Ong 27, Calayag 8, Lapuz 4, Galarion 4, Orbeta 1.
Scoring by halves: 33-31, 56-44
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Second Game
Shirley’s 72 — Guiab 19, Jugos 17, Catungal 13, Bordon 11, Meyran 5, Alonzo 5.
Lower Base 54 — Fujihira 21, Kenty 14, Riungel 10, J. Benavente 5, Camu 2, Dowai 2.
Scoring by halves: 39-18, 72-54.

Third Game
Fiesta 70 — Pagarao 20, Demafelix 8, Francisco 7, Maliwanag 7, Sedillo 6, Arreza 5, Quizon 5, Villamena 4, Ngirarois 4, Esdrelon 2.
POI 53 — Nakashima 28, Santos 8, Tenepere 7, Arago 4, Bait 2.
Scoring by halves: 37-26, 70-63.