Kio keeps pace with Devil Dog in Tinian caging

Team Kio’s Lucio Sanchez shoots against SMA Flyers’ Tanley Villagarcia in their 2021 Island-wide Men’s BudLight Basketball League game last Friday at the Tinian Multi-Purpose Gymnasium. (Contributed photo)

Team Kio remained unbeaten after walloping SMA Flyers, 79-45, in the continuation of the 2021 Island-wide Men’s BudLight Basketball League last Friday at the Tinian Multi-Purpose Gymnasium.

Kio, who played fellow undefeated Devil Dog Warriors last night, recorded its fifth straight win after outscoring SMA Flyers in the pivotal second quarter.

After a relatively tight first quarter that saw Rio only lead by 6 markers, 19-13, Dustin Sablan and Lucio Sanchez presided over an 18-7 route of SMA Flyers in the second that allowed Kio to take a comfortable 37-20 spread at the half.

It would only go from bad to worse as the third quarter transpired with Robert Reyes this time taking over the scoring cudgels. When the fourth quarter finally rolled around, Kio was enjoying a 23-point lead against a hapless SMA Flyers crew.

Sanchez then got much needed support from Heinz Cabrera and Kim King in the game’s final 10 minutes to complete the wire-to-wire victory. Reyes top-scored for Kio with 20 points, while Sanchez and Kim also finished in double figures with 13 and 11 markers, respectively.

Jan Doria led SMA Flyers in defeat with 14 points, while Jason Doria was the only other double-digit scorer for the team with 10 points. SMA Flyers dropped to 1-4 in the team standings.

In the other game last Friday, Team CNMI hiked its win-loss record to 2-3 after beating Power Builders, 61-49.

CNMI raced to an 18-11 lead after the first canto led by the 4 points apiece of Fritz San Nicolas and Anthony Borja. Power Builders, however, would rally in the second and managed to cut their deficit to a matchstick, 29-30, led by the 10 points of J.R. Libut.

Both teams were engaged in a veritable dogfight in the third quarter. Elaina Santos and Louise Maligson tossed in 4 markers each for CNMI, while Libut continued his scoring spree with 6 more points. The game was still in the balance with CNMI only leading by a deuce, 45-43.

CNMI then managed to create some separation against Power Builders in the final 10 minutes of the contests thanks to Borja firing 8 of his game-high 15 points. Libut lost some steam at the end and so was Power Builders’ chances of overcoming CNMI and logging its first win of the season.

Santos and San Nicolas back-stopped Borja with 9 and 8 markers, respectively, while Libut shone all game long for Power Builders with 23 points.

Team Kio 79 – Reyes 20, Sanchez 13, K. King 11, Cabrera 9, J. Sablan 7, B. Sablan 7, D. Sablan 6, S. King 2, Repeki 2, Kiyoshi 2.
SMA Flyers 45 – Ja. Doria 14, J. Doria 10, Casilla 8, Villagracia 7, Olivar 6, K. Borja 6, Manansala 6,
Scoring by quarters: 19-13, 37-20, 57-34, 79-45.

Team CNMI 61 – A. Borja 15, Santos 9, San Nicolas 8, Kwon 8, Manansala 5, Lizama 2, Palacios 2.
Power Builders 49 – A. Libut 23, Castro 6, D. Libut 4, Sanchez 4, Apatan 4, Orbigo 4, Delos Reyes 2, Roaga 2.
Scoring by quarters: 18-11, 30-29, 45-43, 61-49.