Fiesta Resort on a roll in Shirley’s caging

 Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan continued its uphill climb in the 3rd Annual Shirley’s Coffee Shop Invitational Basketball League after slipping past defending champion Pacific Islands Club/NVM last Thursday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

The win was fifth in a row for Fiesta, which is now in solo fourth place after kicking off the first week of the league at the bottom of the team standings, following a 0-2 start. The five-game winning run is the longest win streak for any squad this season, eclipsing the 4-0 start of PIC, which is now on a two-game losing skid.

John March Ong banked a crucial shot in for Fiesta in the closing seconds of the match, making up for his earlier miscue. Before Ong’s basket, Fiesta was ahead by a precarious lead, 86-85. Ong received a drop pass from a driving Jawn Joyner and canned the 2-footer, upping Fiesta’s lead to three, 88-85, with less than 20 seconds left on the clock.

PIC/NVM made several attempts in the ensuing play, but simply could not drill the needed baskets, allowing Fiesta to keep the win.

Fiesta led by as much as 15 points in the second and third periods before PIC launched a rally in the fourth. Ponce Rasa then had a chance to tie the game when he converted a basket and drew a foul, but failed to complete the three-point play, leaving Fiesta with a one-point lead, 86-85, with less than a minute remaining on the clock.

In Fiesta’s next possession, Ong was called for a foul away from play against Ziddy Johanes, as the former tried to provide a screen for Elmer Esdrelon. Johanes trooped to the foul line for a pair of free throws, but missed both.

Ong went on to redeem himself in Fiesta’s offensive set after getting a perfect feed from Joyner and hitting the banked shot.

Esdrelon paced Fiesta with 31 points, while Ernie Moises and Brandon Talania chipped in 18 and 17, respectively. Bruce Berline also finished in double figures with 10, while Ong had six. Ponce Rasa led PIC with 14.

Esdrelon nailed two early triples for Fiesta’s 22-18 lead. He drained two more treys in the second and fired 10 markers in the third period, as Fiesta remained in the driver’s seat, 62-57, entering the final canto. Esdrelon was held to a triple in the final canto, but Moises was there to keep the team afloat with his eight markers, while Ong canned his lone field goal, but the most crucial shot in that period to save Fiesta.

Mobil 105, GPPC, Inc. 78

In the second game, Mobil improved to a 6-1 record and gained the solo lead after beating GPPC, Inc.

GPPC fell to a 1-5 record, as after keeping pace with Mobil in the first three quarters, it ran out of offensive options in the fourth period.

Mobil, which hold a half-game lead over second-running DFS Galleria (5-1) was ahead against GPPC by only four after the third canto, 65-61, when Marvin Rabauliman and Ron Gamboa led the team’s breakaway in the fourth quarter. Rabauliman scored 14 of his 26 points in the payoff frame, while Gamboa made 11 of his 29 markers in the fourth. Four other Mobil players combined for 15 markers in the final canto.

Four players scored for GPPC in the fourth quarter, but only Dennis Morales tallied more than two field goals, logging nine points before fouling out. Randy Mungcal was held to four points, while Aba Tagle and Arthur Montes had only two markers each.

First Game

Fiesta Resort 88 – Esdrelon 31, Moises 18, Talania 17, Berline 10, Joyner 6, Ong 6.

PIC/NVM 85 – Rasa 14, Tamayo 13, Fernando 12, Yabut 10, Abuy 8, Johanes 7, Diaz 6, Salem 5, Ortiz 4, J.R. Mina 3, Lizama 3.

Scoring by quarters: 22-16, 47-38, 62-57, 88-85.

Second Game

Mobil 105 – Gamboa 29, Rabauliman 26, Estolas 15, Sharry 9, Demapan 7, Jose 6, Ruluked 5, Bautista 4, Gapor 4.

GPPC, Inc. 78 – Mungcal 26, Morales 14, Ocampo 10, Jalandoni 8, A. Tagle 8, Montes 6, Sampang 4.

Scoring by quarters: 24-23, 44-36, 65-61, 105-78.