GSM extends win streak to nine

A GSM Lady Ol’Aces player pulls up for a point-blank shot during an earlier game against IT&E in the 2017 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The GSM Lady Ol’Aces is a win away from sweeping the elimination round of the 2017 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament after whipping Marianas Variety, 41-17, last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

The victory was ninth in as many games for GSM, which will try to close out the eliminations undefeated when it takes on Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan tonight at 7pm. Marianas Variety, which fell to a 4-5 record, will also play its last match today when it duels IT&E at 8pm. GSM, Marianas Variety, CTSI (5-4), and Fiesta (7-2) have qualified in the playoff round that will be played this Saturday, while IT&E (2-7), and Shirley’s Coffee Shop (0-9) are out of the playoffs.

Siblings Eleina and Anna Lei Santos towed GSM to another easy victory to keep their team’s perfect record intact. Eleina scored a game-high 16 points, while Anna Lei also finished in twin digits with 10. Anna Lei started things off for GSM, dropping 8 of her total points in the first half to lift her squad to a 22-6 advantage. Eleina took over in the second half, nailing a string of baskets to lead GSM’s lopsided win.

In the other girls division game last weekend, CTSI edged IT&E, 47-40.

Dianne Pablo, Madi Alegre, and Mary Kay Alferos all broke into double figures and hit clutch baskets that foiled IT&E’s repeated comeback bids.

Pablo made 7 straight points midway in the second half, while Alferos and Alegre registered CTSI’s last four field goals to hand their team its fifth win. Pablo posted 11 points, while Alegre and Alferos contributed 10 each. A.J. Garon had 13 markers on a losing effort for IT&E.

Meanwhile, in the first boys division game, Saipan Vegas Elite ended its three-game losing streak and wrapped up the elimination round on a winning note after downing 670 Sonics XVII in overtime, 54-48.

Saipan Vegas Elite finished the elims with a 2-5 record, the same mark the 670 Sonics XVII. Both teams are out of the playoffs, as only the Top 4 squads will advance to the next round.

Duncan Laxa, Traven Quitugua and Gregory Deleon Guerrero teamed up in powering Saipan Vegas Elite past 670 Sonics XVII with the former recording 14 points and his two teammates logging 12 apiece. Laxa had a pair of free throws in overtime, while Quitugua and Deleon Guerrero hit one field goal each. Timmy Pangelinan scored the 2 other points of Saipan Vegas Elite in the extension.

The 670 Sonics XVII was held to one basket in overtime, courtesy of Christian Bravo’s field goal.

First Game
CTSI 47 — Pablo 11, M. Alegre 10, Alferos 10, Watanabe 8, Espinosa 2, J. Alegre 2, Chavez 2.
IT&E 40 — Garon 13, Jeraldine Castillo 9, Pena 6, Hemley 4, Lumabi 4, Ocampo 2, Olivos 2.
Scoring by halves: 20-19, 47-40.

Second Game
Saipan Vegas Elite 54 — Laxa 14, T. Quitugua 12, Deleon Guerrero 12, Soriano 5, Ogasawara 4, Pangelinan 2, Elchico 2.
670 Sonics XVII 48 — Sabangan 8, Bravo 7, Cadag 6, Diyco 6, Ejercito 4, Favor 4, Linaogo 4, Bartolo 2, Caruana 2, Ibanez 2.
Scoring by halves: 20-18, 46-46, 54-48.

Third Game
GSM 41 — E. Santos 16, An. Santos 10, C. Camacho 5, Deleon Guerrero 4, Simran 2, S. Camacho 2, King 2.
Marianas Variety 17 — Kautz 6, Flores 5, Villagomez 4, Cho 2.
Scoring by halves: 22-6, 41-17.