New Chang Ming outduels Socho 

New Chang Ming Market’s Brad Palacios soars for a fast break layup against Team Socho in the open division of the 2nd Annual Saipan Centennial Lions Basketball League Tuesday at the Civic Center Basketball Court in Susupe. (MARK RABAGO)

New Chang Ming Market closed out the game with a 13-0 run to defeat Socho Team, 66-55, in the open division of the 2nd Annual Saipan Centennial Lions Basketball League last Tuesday at the Civic Center Basketball Court in Susupe.

Socho grabbed the lead momentarily in the last five minutes of the match when Jon Limes rattled in a triple to make it 55-53.

However, that was the last the crowd would hear from the team as New Chang Ming shut them down the rest of the way starting with a Rodel Pastrana drive down the middle that tied the game, 55-55, at the 4:39 mark.

Pastrana eventually would give his team the lead, 57-55, on a fastbreak layup. Gerald Flores would then make it 59-55 on a follow up with less than 3 minutes left in the game. 

New Chang Ming Market’s Gerald Flores tried to block Team Socho’s John Nekaifes in the open division of the 2nd Annual Saipan Centennial Lions Basketball League Tuesday at the Civic Center Basketball Court in Susupe. (MARK RABAGO)

Pastrana would score again in transition after another defensive gem by Flores and Sid Quan would close the scoring for the game as New Chang Ming registered its third straight win after a loss on opening night.

The game was in the mud for New Chang Ming all game long, leading only 17-14 after the first quarter. They led by only 4 points, 32-28, at the half before Socho chipped in a point from their deficit, 46-49.

Jeffrey Castro paced New Chang Ming with 15 markers, while Flores and Pastrana added 12 points and 11 points, respectively.

Limes led all scorers with 21 points, while Mariano Aguon chipped in 10 for Socho, which dropped to 1-3.

In the second game, JTM Saipan improved to 4-1 in the same open division after dumping K2 Ballerz, 75-64.

JTM Saipan got going from the get-go, taking a 26-15 spread after the first 10 minutes of play. They grew the lead in the second canto, opening a 41-24 advantage at halftime.

It was more of the same in the third with JTM Saipan cruising to a 64-46 margin coming into the fourth and final quarter.

Vinz Rodriguez paced JTM Saipan with 15 points, while Jonel Broncano and Bryan Bernardo added 11 markers apiece.

K2 Ballerz, which lost its third game in four tries, was led by the 21 points of Garrett Mariano, while Jay Palmes pitched in 12 markers.

First Game
New Chang Ming Market 66 – Castro 15, Flores 12, Pastrana 11, Palacios 8, Quan 4, Gontar 4, Almario 3, Santos 2, Standish 2, Montes 2.
Socho Team 55 – Limes 21, Aguon 10, Mettao 8, D. Faisao 5, Q. Faisao 3, Pangelinan 2, Taisague 2, Nekaifes 2.
Scoring by quarters: 17-14, 32-28, 49-46, 66-55.

Second Game
JTM Saipan 75 – V. Rodriguez 15, Broncano 11, Bernardo 11, Bayna 9, Demonteverde 6, Dancel 5, Ferrer 5, Directo 4, Ruiz 3, Romo 3, Velasco 2, Cruz 2.
K2 Ballerz 64 – Mariano 21, Palmes 12, Mamis 9, Taitingfong 6, Satur 6, Lizama 4, Dikito 4, Kaipat 2.
Scoring by quarters: 26-15, 41-24, 64-45, 75-64.