Fiesta Resort, Armatech share lead

Female players recite the oath of sportsmanship during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Tan Holdings Basketball Classic last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan and Armatech are in tie for the early lead in the women’s division of the 2014 Tan Holdings Basketball Classic.

Fiesta gained its second win in as many games in the six-team field after outclassing IT&E in the first game of last Saturday’s women’s division triple-header at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. Fiesta earlier won its debut during the league’s opener last Dec. 19 after downing Sun Palace Hotel, 40-30.

Against IT&E, Fiesta also went home with a twin-digit margin as four of the latter’s players broke into double figures. Janelle Francisco led Fiesta with her 21 points, while Friendly Joy Pena chipped in 15, and Lian Reyes and Martina Ada contributed 11 and 10, respectively.

Kyla Ito had a game-high 32 points, but was the only double figure scorer for IT&E, which fell to a 0-2 record, as it also bowed to Armatech last Monday.

Armatech’s 54-29 rout of IT&E was a fitting follow-up of their 43-27 domination of Shirley’s Coffee Shop last Saturday.
Rachel Abrams and Chevy Kate Alipio teamed up in towing Armatech to victory, as they combined for more than half of the squad’s total output. Abrams had a game-high 17 points, while Alipio added 13.

Abrams fired 12 of her total points in the first period, lifting Armatech to a 24-11 halftime lead. The division co-leader kept its safe distance in the second quarter, as Alipio took over from Abrams, dropping 10 markers in the final frame.
Meanwhile, in the second game last Saturday, Kanoa Resort edged Sun Palace, 23-21.

Negahr Rastguiy top-scored for Kanoa with her 9 points, but it was Kelsey Lizama who hit the crucial baskets for the team, as she registered their last 4 points.

The game against Sun Palace was Kanoa’s first and the latter will play its second game tomorrow against IT&E at 8pm. Sun Palace, which has a 0-2 card, will go for win No. 1 versus Shirley’s at 7pm, while Armatech and Fiesta dispute the solo lead at 5:30pm.

First Game
Fiesta 65–Francisco 21, Pena 15, Reyes 11, Ada 10, Garon 4, Lee 2.
IT&E 53–Ito 32, Williams 8, Alegre 6, Atalig 5, Villagomez 3.
Scoring by halves: 36-27, 65-53.

Second Game
Kanoa 23–T. Santos 7, Lizama 4, Jones 4, Muna 2, Agulto 2, Iriarte 2, Cabrera 2.
Sun Palace 21–Abadilla 8, Avelino 5, Lumabi 4, Cardinio 2, Olivos 2.
Scoring by halves: 11-8, 23-21.

Third Game
Armatech 43–Abrams 17, Alipio 13, Castillo 7, Pagarao 4, Pangilinan 2.
Shirley’s 27–Rastguiy 9, Pablo 6, Ito 5, Castillo 3, Vergara 2, Phan 2.
Scoring by halves: 24-11, 43-27.