Hi-5 outlasts Rollers 1, 56-47

 Hi-5 fended off a third quarter rally by Rollers 1 to prevail, 56-47, as the U19 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League continued Friday at the TSL Sports Complex in Gualo Rai.

The game was tied at 37-all heading into the final quarter, but Hi-5 outscored Rollers 1, 19-10, in the final canto to eke out the victory, which improved its win-loss card to 3-1.

Both teams started slow as Rollers 1 managed an early 11-10 lead in the opening period. Hi-5, however, regrouped in the second quarter and claimed a 21-16 edge at the pause. Don Hockett led Hi-5 with nine points in the opening half.

Rollers 1 clawed its way back into the game and knotted the score at 37-all heading into the final period.

Rollers 1 played physical defense and connected with three treys in the third period. Jon Cenir led the comeback with 10 points, however it was short lived as Hi-5 caught fire at crunch time and finished off their opponents.

Frank Machahito led the late surge with eight points. He finished with a team-high 15 points, while Rollers 1’s Cenir scored 16 points in the setback.

In the second game, the Sonics won its third game in a row after an opening night loss to the Ol’Aces with a 60-25 romping of CK Blazers.

Ezra Caro paced Sonics with eight points in the first quarter as his team built an early 18-7 lead.

His teammate Bryl Alegre kept it rolling with five markers in the second quarter as Sonics pulled ahead, 27-16. The Blazers’ offense struggled, as Cody Kaipat was its only hot hand; he managing 11 points in the first half.

It went back and forth after the break as the Sonics maintained a 35-22 margin heading into the payoff period.

The Sonics then caught their second wind as they stuffed the Blazers to just three points in the clutch and ran up the scoreboard in end.

Caro and Melvin Cadiang led the Sonics with 10 points apiece. Blazers’ Kaipat was held scoreless in the second half, but still led his team in points.

The U19 season continues tomorrow with NMC-Proa taking on Kagman at 5pm in Gualo Rai.

In U15 play on Saturday, the 670 Rollers schooled RBC Angels, 56-21.

Showing no mercy, 670 Rollers took it right to the young Angels squad, amassing a stout, 22-0, lead in the opening eight minutes. Emerson Feria led the charge with eight markers in the period.

The Angels finally hit the board in the second quarter, however the Rollers stretched its margin to 30-6, at halftime.

The Angels were unable to climb out of the hole in the third quarter as the Rollers pulled away, 43-15; and the Rollers cruised to an easy win in the final canto.

The other two matches on the docket Saturday did not take place as the players of one of the teams had to attend a funeral, while Ol’Aces pulled out of the league on short notice causing another cancellation of the final pairing.

The U15 girls national team was on bye this week. The RBC may try to form a late entry to take the place of Ol’Aces. This week’s matchups are still pending adjustment of the schedule of games.

Last Wednesday, Ol’Aces (2-1) gifted a 20-0 forfeit win to NMC-Proa (1-2) due to a roster shortage. Both Rollers 1 and Blazers now hold identical cards of 1-3.

FRIDAY

First Game

Sonics 60 – Cadiang 10, Caro 10, Alegre 9, Del Rosario 8, Tudela 8, Aranda 6, Salem 4, De Guzman 3, Villanueva 2.

CK Blazers 25 – Kaipat 11, Sablan 5, Torres 5, Camacho 2, Basa 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-7, 27-16, 35-22, 60-25.

Second Game

Hi-5 56 – Macahito 15, Salem 13, Hockett 11, Manibusan 7, Urbano 6, Sablan 2, Atalig 2.
Rollers 1 47 – Cenir 16, Norita 9, Darag 9, Fransisco 6, DL Guerrero 5, Diaz 2.

Scoring by quarters: 10-11, 21-16, 37-37, 56-47.

SATURDAY

670 Rollers 56 – Feria 12, Factor 8, Pangelinan 8, Iglesias 5, Malonzo 4, Cayading 3, Floresca 3, Lansang 5, Admana 4, Camacho 2.

RBC Angels 21 – Feria 8, Amog 5, Morales 4, Abobo 2, Valencia 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-0, 30-6, 43-15, 56-21.