New Chang Ming outlasts Puerto Rico Bento

New Chang Ming Market’s Shane Deleon Guerrero drives baseline in their open division game against Puerto Rico Bento in the 2nd Annual Saipan Centennial Lions Club Basketball League last Wednesday at the Civic Center Basketball Court in Susupe. (MARK RABAGO)

New Chang Ming Market defeated the erstwhile unbeaten Puerto Rico Bento in the open division of the 2nd Annual Saipan Centennial Lions Club Basketball League last Wednesday at the Civic Center Basketball Court in Susupe.

Coach Dennis Cortez and company took Puerto Rico Bento’s lunch money in their 84-78 win that allowed New Chang Ming Market to catch their opponent in the standings at 2-1.

The game was competitive from the opening tip with New Chang Ming Market taking a 29-22 spread in the first quarter before Puerto Rico Bento sizzled in the second and rallied to just a 41-44 deficit at the half.

Thanks to Jack Aranda and Gerald Flores teaming up in the third, New Chang Ming Market was able to increase their lead, 71-63, heading into the fourth and final quarter.

Shane Deleon Guerrero then was as sweet as sugar on his offensive moves in the fourth, dropping 6 of his team-high 21 points to tow New Chang Ming Market to victory. 

Aranda and Jeffrey Castro back-stopped Deleon Guerrero with 19 and 11 points, respectively. The orange-clad Puerto Rico Bento was paced by the game-high 29 markers of Coby Santos, while John Bayking added 21 in the loss.

In the earlier game, Pelisamen brothers Freddie and Ben continued their scoring spree, combining for 51 points to lead O’Aces to a 106-74 win over winless RNV Construction in the masters division.

It was win No. 2 against no loss for Ol’Aces, while RNV Construction, which was led by the 25 markers of Ronald Rueda, absorbed its second loss in as many games.

Last Monday, Socho Team eked out a 62-61 over Lakay for its first win in the open division, while Lakay dropped to 1-2. The second game in the same age group then saw Martech Ol’Aces improved to 2-0 following a 86-64 win over K2 Ballerz, which lost for the first time in second games.

Tuesday then saw JTM Saipan bludgeon Checkpoint International, 89-64, to raise its record to 2-1, while keeping their opponents winless in two tries. The other open division game that play-date saw Alii balance its record to 1-1 after turning back The Game, 81-71. The Game dropped to 1-1.

First Game
Ol’Aces 106 – F. Pelisamen 30, B. Pelisamen 21, Santos 13, Mendiola 12, B. Joab 7, D. Joab 6,  Libuw 6, Rangamar 6, Renguul 5.
RNC Construction 74 – R. Rueda 25, Bacuyag 12, Alfonso 8, Odicta 8, J. Rueda 7, Jumaquio 6, Tagle 4, Laoyon 4.
Scoring by quarters: 34-17, 57-32, 89-50, 106-74.

Second Game
New Chang Ming Market 84 – Deleon Guerrero 21, Aranda 19, Castro 11, Pastrana 8, Flores 6, Quan 5, Standish 5, Santos 3, Palacios 2.
Puerto Rico Bento 78 – Santos 29, Bayking 21, Mintac 16, Forando 10, Ibe 2.
Scoring by quarters: 29-22, 44-41, 71-63, 84-78.