KFC eases past Ol’Aces for third win

KFC’s WIlfredo Francisco, left, blocks a shot from the Ol’Aces’ Leowell Cristobal, while teammate John Darag provides help defense during the first quarter of their U18 game in the BANMI youth caging last Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Dixon Kwon towed KFC to the 13-point win after firing a game-high 24 markers. The lefty scored in each of the four quarters to lead KFC. He started slow, making 3 points in the first period, had 6 and 7 in the next two quarters, and saved his best for last, tallying 6 in the fourth.

Shane Deleon Guerrero backed Kwon up, adding 10 points, while three other KFC players combined for 20 more markers for the team’s balanced offense.

Six different players hit the board for KFC in the first period, which ended with the team ahead by on only 5, 17-12. The advantaged then doubled at halftime, 31-21, with Kwon converting three field goals. Kwon also dropped three baskets in succession in the third period to help KFC keep the driver’ seat, 42-35, and then he drew enough help from his teammates to increase their lead in the payoff period.

Edmond Borja paced the Ol’Aces and was the lone double figure scorer on the team with his 10 markers. The Ol’Aces dropped to a 1-5 card.

Meanwhile, Tinian also notched a double-digit winning margin over the Chalan Kanoa Saints, 65-54, last Friday.

Tinian now has a 7-0 record and will keep its unbeaten mark in the regular season, as its scheduled final game against the CNMI Girls Nationals today has been cancelled with the latter pulling out of the tournament due to lack of players.

Saipan-based player Kobee Mendoza led Tinian ‘s win with his 18 points, while Ignacio Borja and Karlo De Leon also finished in twin digits with 14 and 12, respectively.

Mendoza nailed 11 of his total output in the first period to lift Tinian to an early double-digit spread, 19-8. Mendoza was then held to one field goal in the second canto, but Borja stepped up, tallying 8 points, as Tinian pulled away further, 41-20. The Keith Nabors-coached team never looked back from thereon to retain its perfect record.

FRIDAY
Tinian 65 – Mendoza 18, Borja 14, De Leon 12, P. Sablan 8, Cruz 6, D. Sablan 6, Nabors 2.

Saints 54 – Omengkar 14, Lansang 11, Fidelino 10, Espinosa 10, Langu 8, Pangelinan 6, Nakashima 6, Pialur 4.

Scoring by quarters: 19-8, 41-20, 49-37, 65-54.

TUESDAY
KFC 64 – Kwon 24, De Leon Guerrero 10, Francisco 8, Darag 6, Dancoe 6, Alipio 4, Borromeo 4, Ogasawara 2.

Ol’Aces 51 – Borja 10, Anderson 7, Castillo 7, Kabiriel 6, Miller 6, Peters 4, Laniyo 3, Cristobal 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-12, 31-21, 42-35, 64-51.