K2 Ballers, OG Rollers victorious in Day 1

K2 Ballers, seen here in action against Pacific Auto, defeated Socho 2 in Day 1 of the NMI Rollers Basketball Association’s Inaugural NMI Rollers Men’s Basketball Tournament last Friday at the Koblerville Gymnasium. (Mark Rabago)

K2 Ballers and OG Rollers got off to auspicious starts as the NMI Rollers Basketball Association’s Inaugural NMI Rollers Men’s Basketball Tournament kicked off last Friday at the Koblerville Gymnasium.

In the first game, K2 Ballers leaned on the hot 3-point shooting of Jon Santos to beat Socho 2, 62-46.

Santos fired 11 points—9 from rainbow country—in the first 20 minutes of action to give K2 Ballers a 25-15 lead after the first half. He would go from combustible to scorching in the second half, as the sweet-shooting guard added 18 more points—six from the land of plenty—as the Kagman team coasted to victory.

Santos led the way with a so far tournament-high 29 points. Ichi Faisao and Ryan Mendiola also finished in doubles figures for K2 Ballers with 14 and 11 markers, respectively.

Donnie Fejeran paced Socho 2 in the loss with 16 points, while Athan Taisague added 12.

In the second game of Friday’s twin bill, OG Rollers got balanced contributions up and down its lineup to prevail, 47-32, against an out-of-sync Lakay squad.
Eli Garcia and Leo Naraja punched in 4 points apiece in the first half that saw OG Rollers erect a 26-19 lead.

Garcia then got help from Lucio Aldan and Don Teregeyo in the second as the trio combined for 18 points to keep OG Rollers at the helm and they won running away.

Garcia scored 12 points to lead OG Rollers, while Teregeyo and Aldan chipped in 9 and 7 markers, respectively. Lakay had no double-figure scorer and was spearheaded by the 9 points of J.R. Martinez. Mel Capalad also added 6 points in the loss.

Other teams signed up for the tournament, which is being held to raise funds to buy RBA’s shooting machines, are Socho 1, San Antonio Sixers, Rollers, Blu Haus, Jacob’s Bakeshop & BBQ, Marianas Dental Center, GMJ/IKKI (Bolabois), The Game, and Pacific Auto.

Results of Saturday’s five-game schedule will be published in tomorrow’s issue of Saipan Tribune.

First Game

K2 Ballers 62 – Santos 29, Faisao 14, Mendiola 11, Hocog 4, Lizama 3, Malwelbul 2.

Socho 2 46 – Fejeran 16, Taisague 12, Pangelinan 4, Sharry 3, Phillip 3, Guerrero 2, Espinosa 2, Smith 2, Iguel 1.

Scoring by halves: 26-15, 63-46.

Second Game

OG Rollers 47 – Garcia 12, Teregeyo 9, Aldan 7, Pangelinan 5, Satur 4, Naraja 4, Factor 2, Danas 2, Ilo 2, Feria 2.

Lakay 32 – Martinez 9, Capalad 6, Chris 4, Jaime 3, Isip 3, Toribio 2, Binuya 2.

Scoring by halves: 26-19, 47-32.