Kanoa Resort beats Pacific Postal Plus

The Kanoa Resort outclassed Pacific Postal Plus, 67-62, in the lone game played in the IT&E Emon Masonic Lodge No. 179 Mixed Masters Brotherhood Basketball League last Wednesday at the Koblerville Gymnasium.

The Kanoa-Pacific Postal was a clash of contrasting playing styles. Kanoa had 10 players contributing on offense, while Pacific Postal leaned heavily on Jestoni Pineda and Rommel Usi.

One of the many scorers for Kanoa was Jerald Rivera, who found early success with his shot as he bagged 10 markers or almost half of the Krushers’ 21-point output in the first quarter. Fradel Sedillo added 7 to hand Kanoa the shaky lead, 21-20.

The trio of Pineda, Usi, and Ryan Odicta proved to be troublesome for Kanoa in the first quarter as they combined for Pacific Postal Plus’ 20 points to lurk behind their foe.

The second period was just as close as the first and ended in a deadlock, 36-all, with both teams getting contributions from multiple players.

After the neck-and-neck battle in the first half, Kanoa finally gained cushion in the third. Kanoa continued to run a balance offense with eight of its players taking turns in finding the bottom of the net, while it held Pacific Postal to 9 points. The combination of Kanoa’s stifling defense and unselfish play put the team on top by double digits, 56-45, going into the final canto.

With Pacific Postal behind, Usi took over the scoring load for Pacific Postal, but his 10-point outburst in the fourth period proved to be too little, too late. Kanoa, on the other hand, managed to stay on top and secure the win, thanks to a pair of free throws from Sedillo and a split from Rivera.

Sedillo top-scored for Kanoa with his 15 points, while Rivera finished with 13, and Dindo Pablo and Rommel Quintip combined for 17. Pineda, Usi, and Odicta turned in 21, 20, and 11 markers, respectively for Pacific Postal, which dropped to a 2-3 record. Kanoa improved to a 2-2 mark.

Meanwhile, Kensington Hotel (4-1) was awarded the automatic win after Imperial Pacific International (0-6) forfeited the second match last Wednesday. IPI is out of the competition and its opponents will be given the outright victories.

Kanoa 67— Sedillo 15, Rivera 13, Pablo 9, Quintip 8, Tenepere 7, Bata 4, Lumauag 4, Bustillo 3, Fejeren 2, Sison 2
Pacific Postal 62 — J. Pineda 21, Usi 20, Odicta 11, Broucano 8, Abanlog 2
Scoring by quarters: 21-20, 36-36, 56-45, 67-62.