Loving Hands, R-Rebels notch wins

  Loving Hands Daycare and the R-Rebels triumphed over separate opponents in last Saturday’s Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League make-up matches at the Garapan Basketball Court.

The R-Rebels mopped the floor with Star Water (0-4), 88-57, in the curtain raiser in Division A and improved their record to 3-1, while Loving Hands stamped its fourth win in five games after defeating NVM (2-2), 83-72, in the late pairing in Division B.

The R-Rebels are in second place in Division A behind QQ Rent A Car (4-1). DLX (3-1), Mobil (1-2), and Ashley’s (1-3) complete the group. Loving Hands leads Division B, ahead of Wanted Sponsor (3-2), Saipan Hardware (3-2), Cargo Express (2-2), and Hip Hop Thunder (1-4),

Star Water’s Ernie Moises and Joy Dayrit chipped in seven points apiece for a slim 25-24 lead after the opening 10 minutes of Saturday’s opener. However the R-Rebels kicked it into high gear during the second canto and opened up a 46-35 margin at midpoint. Trevor Ogumoro led the R-Rebels’ charge with eight points in the second canto.

The R-Rebels continued to play solid defense after the break and contained their opponents to just seven markers in the third quarter for a daunting 68-42 margin, heading into the last period. Eight different R-Rebels contributed on offense in the third frame.

It remained all R-Rebels in the fourth quarter, as Star Water simply fell too far behind.

Marlon De Dios scrambled for nine points late in the game for Star Water, but it was not enough. He and Edwin Santos teamed up for 24 points, while R-Rebels’ Ogumoro and Syl Teregeyo turned in 14 apiece.

In the second game, Loving Hands Daycare buried three early treys for a 20-19 edge in the first quarter; two came from Sonny Lerio who led the squad with 8 points in the opening frame.

Lerio then banged in two more threes early in the second quarter and added 9 more points to his total as Loving Hands pulled ahead at halftime, 47-33. Melvin Cadiang and Jessie Mina combined for 14 points to lead NVM.

NVM nailed four from behind the arc in the third quarter, however Lerio kept his hot hand for another 8 points to help maintain a 65-53 advantage, heading into the payoff period.

James Abuy then added a pair of three balls early in the fourth quarter, helping Loving Hands roll to the easy win.

Lerio finished with a game-high 29 points, while Rocyl Ritual managed 21 on the short end for NVM.

First Game

R-Rebels 88 – Ogumoro 14, Teregeyo 14, Norita 8, Hambros 7, Lisua 7, Fitial 6, Galulu 6, Litulumar 6, E Camacho 5, Ulloa 5, Ogarto 4.

Star Water 57 – Santos 13, De Dios 11, Manalo 8, Moises 10, Dayrit 8, Capalad 3, Rivera 2, A, Sacramento 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-25, 46-35, 68-42, 88-57.

Second Game

Loving Hands 83 – Lerio 29, Rabauliman 10, Abuy 9, Tabora 7, Barrios 6, Johannes 5, G. Aquino 4, Herrera 2.

NVM 72 – Ritual 21, Basa 12, Cadiang 8, M. Manibusan 7, Mina 7, Barcinas 6, Mendiola 6, Deleon 2, Tobias 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-19, 47-33, 65-53, 83-72.