GMJ/IKKI sweeps debut games

GMJ/IKKI Wholesale’s Joshua Melendez is fouled by Pacman’s Jun Tabora during the third quarter of their open division game in the San Antonio caging last Monday at the San Antonio caging. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

GMJ/IKKI Wholesale went 2-0 in their debut games in the 2015 San Antonio Community Action Network Basketball League after winning their masters and open assignments last Monday at the San Antonio court.

In the masters division, GMJ/IKKI cruised past CES Electronics, 79-55, while in the open category the former nosed out Pacman, 71-70.

J.R. Barrios made the winning basket with his free throw, while Rocyl Ritual muffed a chance to hand Pacman the victory, as his banked jumper from the left corner went short as time expired.

GMJ/IKKI had to rely on Barrios’ free throw shooting after it lost the baker’s dozen lead it established at the end of the third period, 54-41. Pacman overhauled the deficit behind its balance offense as Ritual and four of his teammates contributed at least two baskets apiece in the fourth-quarter fight-back. Ritual led Pacman’s rally with his 8 markers in the fourth before his sorry miss at the buzzer, while Barrios had only 4 points in the entire match, but nailed GMJ/IKKI’s last 2 from the foul line.

Saipan basketball newcomer Joshua Melendez top-scored for GMJ/IKKI with his 21 points, 13 of them came in the third quarter and after he sustained a cut at the lower left eye. Juan Camacho was the other double- figure scorer for GMJ/IKKI with 10, while James Villacrusis, Marlon Sison, and Ignacio Borja combined for 24 more points.

The GMJ/IKKI-Pacman tiff was the first pairing in the East Division of the open competition. The group also has Pacific Islands Club, Ghasias Brothers, GMI Market, Armatech, World Resort, and Ferrera Builders, while the West Division is composed of opening day winner MJD Corp., Sonics, KB Market, Islander, Ask Y U B, 5 Star, Blue Haus Ali’i, and Maplas.

In the masters division, GMJ/IKKI hit the win column of the nine-team field after it outclassed CES Electronics.

Dennis Cortez paced GMJ/IKKI with his 22 points and drew help from lefties Fradel Sedillo and Joseph Galulu, who chipped in 13 and 11 markers, respectively. Sonny Ebuen was the lone double-figure scorer for CES Electronics, registering 14.

GMJ/IKKI fell behind at the end of the first period, 14-16, but started dominating CES Electronics in the second en route to the 14-point winning margin.

Masters
GMJ/IKKI 79 – Cortez 22, Sedillo 13, Galulu 11, Montano 8, Dizon 6, Guiang 6, Sison 5, Saplan 4, Balgos 2, Demapan 2.

CES 55 – Ebuen 14, Tibayan 9, Abadilla 9, Dacumos 7, Tengco 6, Capuyon 5, Tobias 4, De Jesus 1.
Scoring by quarters:  14-16, 41-23, 60-40, 79-55.

Open
GMJ/IKKI 71 – Melendez 21, Camacho 10, Villacrusis 9, Sison 8, Borja 7, Dizon 6, Mangali 6, Barrios 4.

Pacman 70 – Laguimdan 13, Ritual 12, Rangamar 10, Lerio 9, Tabora 6, Zalgatar 6, Borita 4, Tgle 3, Sablan 3, Lizama 2, Capalad 2.

Scoring by quarters: 15-12, 26-27, 54-41, 71-70.