Loving Hands hold off Cargo Express, 73-72

  Loving Hands Daycare buried four pressure-packed charities from the 15-foot line in the final seconds to survive Cargo Express, 73-72, in Wednesday’s Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League matchup at the Garapan Basketball Court.

In other results, R-Rebels was leading Star Water, 57-39, with 7:01 left in the third quarter of Wednesday’s late pairing before rain caused for suspension of the game, while on Thursday, Saipan Hardware defeated Hip-Hop Thunder, 75-67, before the late match was also called off early due to bad weather. Ashley was leading Mobil, 21-15, in the second game with 7:21 left in the second quarter before the rainout.

The season continues tonight in Garapan at 6pm with B Division’s NVM taking on Wanted Sponsor followed at 8pm by A Division’s Star Water facing DLX.

Then tomorrow’s matchups feature Hip-Hop Thunder against Cargo Express at 6pm followed by QQ Rent-A-Car clashing with Mobil at 8pm.

Blue Haus’ newly revised schedule has moved the weekly game dates to Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at the Garapan court. There will still be double features set for these dates, however the game times have been moved up to 6pm and 8pm, accordingly.

Contact Dante Olivos at 989-6286 for more information.

On Wednesday, Loving Hands built an early 16-11 lead in the opening 10 minutes off 8 points by Bernard Aquino.

It then stretched it out to a 35-24 margin at halftime as Jun Tabora delivered six markers in support to go with another solid defensive performance.

Cargo Express then nailed a trio of 3 -pointers after the break to battle back to within a couple of possessions, 50-54, heading into the final canto, and the matchup ended up going all the way down to the final buzzer.

Bruce Berline put Cargo Express on his back for a dozen points at crunch time, but Loving Hands’ Tabora and Sonny Lerio teamed up for 13 to go with a couple of long range shots from behind the arc, earning them the nod through regulation.

Cargo Express tried to foul late in the game to get an outside chance for an upset, but Loving Hands’ Tabora and Lerio each drained a couple of clutch free throws to seal the deal.

In the end, it was 15 points by J.R. Barios that led Loving Hands, while Cargo Express’ Berline topped the field with 16.

In Thursday’s match, Saipan Hardware’s Michael Palacios, Errol Peredo, and Tim Quan chipped in 4 points apiece for an early, 21-18, advantage after the first period, but Hip-Hop Thunder’s Retmark Castro led a second quarter charge with 8 points that locked up the match at 37-all at intermission.

Saipan Hardware made a big stand on the defensive end in the third quarter as they trotted ahead, 59-48, heading into the last 10 minutes. Quan paced the group with 8 points in the period.

Hip-Hop Thunder tried to ignite another comeback in the payoff period, but Saipan Hardware’s Peredo and Zack Babauta each buried a pair of late free throws that helped secure the win.

Peredo led the group with 17 points, while Hip-Hop Thunder’s Ivan Devero turned in a game-high 21 in defeat.

THURSDAY

Saipan Hardware 75 – Peredo 17, Lauron 15, Quan 15, Palacios 8, Babauta 5, Tenorio 5, Babauta 3, Lansang 3, Park 2, Tenepere 2.

Hip-Hop Thunder 67 – I. Devero 21, Mateo 13, Castro 13, Libuw 9, C. Devero 4, Sacramento 4, Durant 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-18, 37-37, 59-48, 75-67.

WEDNESDAY

Loving Hands 73 – Barios 15, Lerio 12, Tabora 12, B Aquino 18, G Aquino 8, Gabaldon 6, Herrera 2.

Cargo Express 72 – Berline 16, Talania 13, Sharry 10, Archangel 8, Lizama 8, Morales 8, Patawaran 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-11, 35-24, 54-50, 73-72.