Fighting Fitz drops twin exhibition matches

 The Freddie Pelisamen-led team edged the Fighting Fitz, 38-34, in an exhibition game hosted by organizers of the 2011 Garapan Basketball League IT&E Cup last Sunday night at the Garapan Basketball Court.

Pelisamen fired 19 points in the first exhibition match against the crewmembers of navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62). Kelvin Fitial also suited up for the selection team and added eight points in the victory, while Mike Olaitiman, Clayton Kenty, Chris Mizer, and Sahj Hossain also scored in the friendly match.

No Fighting Fitz broke into double figures, but seven players made it to the scoreboard, including Johnson (first name was not written in the score sheets), who top-scored for the visitors with seven points.

The match was a close one with the visitors taking a two-point lead at the half, 22-20. However, the Fighting Fitz could not hang on to the lead as it failed to neutralize Pelisamen in the second half. The former CNMI National Team member scored his team’s first eight points in the second half and the last three to steal the game.

In the second exhibition match, the GBL selection handed the visitors another loss, 37-28.

Jawn Joyner and Elmer Esdrelon teamed up in the GBL selection’s victory, drilling 12 and 11 points, respectively. Kae Bernardo contributed six. Other members of the selection were Errol Peredo, Alex Lauron, Elgeanne Mangali, Marlon De Dios, Dexter Tenorio, and J.R. Barrios.

Esdrelon connected on two triples in the first half and Joyner made one to lift their team to a 21-12 halftime advantage. The selection kept the lead and the win with Joyner scoring four of the team’s last six points.

Johnson again top-scored for Fighting Fitz, nailing eight markers against the GBL selection.

GBL opening tomorrow, weather permits

If Mother Nature cooperates, the 2011 Garapan Basketball League IT&E Cup will open shop tomorrow with the participating squads joining the traditional parade of teams at 6pm.

The inaugural GBL caging, which was scheduled to kick off last Saturday, but was rained-out, will feature eight teams: BlueHaus/Satbahi, Ol’Aces, FGC Construction, R-Rebels, Mobil, Andok’s, NMC Proa, and host Konflikt/IT&E Blue.

Four squads will play in the opening day with the pairings to be determined via raffle drawing.

Saipan Mayor Donald Flores is invited to grace the opening day and deliver the welcome remarks in the first GBL IT&E Cup.