Isaiah, Daniel still flawless

Isaiah and Daniel kept their unbeaten records in the 4th Genesis Cup Christian Churches Inter-Color Basketball League after topping their respective opponents.

Isaiah’s Marlo Ibanez escapes past two Gideon defenders for a layup during the second half of their game in the 4th Genesis Cup last Monday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Isaiah defeated Gideon, 68-58, last Monday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium to improve to a 4-0 record, the same mark Daniel holds after whipping Joshua, 73-53, last Friday.

Daniel built an early double-digit lead in the first half, 33-19, and protected the driver’s seat in the second half behind Angelo Hernaez’s consistent scoring. Hernaez finished with a game-high 19 points, 12 of them came in the second half. Point guard Andrew Palino backed him up, adding 11 markers, while seven other Daniel players contributed at least two field goals apiece for the team’s balance scoring.

Darwin Gonzales had 12 markers to lead Joshua, which fell to a 1-3 record and lost its last three matches.

In last Monday’s first game, Isaiah had a strong finish to thwart Gideon.

After holding a shaky 52-51 lead down to the last four minutes of the match, Isaiah went on a 16-7 windup en route to the double-digit winning margin.

Lefty Marlo Ibanez took care of business for Isaiah in the closing minutes, scoring 8 of the team’s last 16 points. His triple gave Isaiah more breathing room, 55-51 and then he went 3-for-4 from the foul line to keep the team’s same distance. His layup under the 1-minute mark of the match pegged the final score.

Gideon failed to overhaul Isaiah’s lead as it committed several turnovers in the homestretch, while the latter turned those miscues into points.

Ibanez led all scorers with his 26 points, while Walter Brillo chipped in 10. Isagani Cortez, Francis Estanislao and Greg De Leon combined for 22 more points for Isaiah.

Bradley Demapan paced Gideon with his 17 points. Gideon is at the bottom half of the team standings with its even 2-2 slate.

Meanwhile, results of last Monday’s second game between Samuel and Caleb along with the Jeremiah-Ezekiel tiff last Friday will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Thursday edition.

Friday
Daniel 73 – Hernaez 19, Palino 11, Nunez 6, Valderama 6, Del Rio 6, Ong 6, Robles 6, Pablo 5, Joson 4, Borromeo 2, Del Carmen 2.

Joshua 53 – Gonzales 12, Dequito 10, Abe 8, Isip 7, Chavez 7, Ibanez 7, Sayas 2.

Scoring by halves: 33-19, 73-53.

Monday
Isaiah 68 – Ibanez 26, Brillo 10, Cortez 8, De Leon 7, Estanislao 7, Puno 2, Arroyo 2, Gragasin 2, Buno 2, Vergara 2.

Gideon 58 – Demapan 17, Ocampo 13, Buniag 8, Borja 8, David 6, Santos 4, Palma 2.

Scoring by halves: 34-35, 68-58.