PIC, Hyatt trounce opponents

Hyatt Regency Saipan’s Sahj Hossain goes up for an off-balance shot against Mariana Resort’s Jazz Roscow during the third quarter of their game in the Inter-hotel caging last Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

PIC routed Kanoa Resort in the curtain raiser, 95-52, while Hyatt pounded Mariana Resort in the nightcap, 76-37. PIC improved to a 3-1 record for a share of second place with idle World Resort. Hyatt bagged its second straight win for a 2-3 slate and fourth place in the team standings. Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan still leads the seven-team field with its flawless 3-0 mark, while Mariana Resort is at the bottom with its 0-3 card. Kanoa and Shirley’s are at the bottom half with 1-3 and 1-2 marks, respectively.

Hyatt recovered from a sluggish start to demolish Mariana Resort and start a winning streak. The defending champion nailed only two fields goals in the first quarter and scored six points. Fortunately for Hyatt, Mariana Resort was still looking for its shooting touch, too in the opening period and tallied only seven markers.

Mariana Resort had the same seven-point output in the second canto, while Hyatt began hitting its mark and more than tripled the former’s production for the breakaway, 30-14. Mariana Resort’s 14 points was the lowest halftime score in the league.

The Marpi-based team was stuck to 14 markers in the first four minutes of the third canto, allowing Hyatt to pull away further, 39-14. Robert Bansil broke Mariana Resort’s silence with his drive, but that was not enough to spark a rally, as Hyatt preserved the big lead after the third, 50-25, and had cruise control in the fourth to notch back-to-back wins.

Sahj Hossain led Hyatt with his 18 points.

In the first game, PIC got into business right in the opening canto to set the tone of the match. PIC built an early double-digit lead, 27-14, thanks to the hot shooting of James Abuy and Jack Aranda. The duo combined for 16 of PIC’s total points in the first 10 minutes of play.

PIC slowed down in the second period, making only 18 points, but Kanoa did not capitalize on the opportunity and was still outgunned with its 12 markers, leaving the former with a 19-point advantage at the break, 45-26.

By the end of the third quarter, the game was over, as PIC’s lead ballooned to 34, 69-35. Again, PIC’s outside sniping coupled with several baskets from its frontliners made it hard for Kanoa to mount a big comeback.

Abuy top-scored for PIC with his 21 points, 15 of them came from beyond the arc, while Aranda cbipped in 16. Big men Darwin Barbo and Demapan also finished in twin digits with 11 and 10, respectively. Matt Duenas paced Kanoa with his 16 markers.

PIC 92 – Abuy 21, Aranda 16, Barbo 11, Demapan 10, Buchun 6, Remillosa 4, Babauta 4, Bartolo 4, Santos 3, Del Rosario 3, Quitugua 1.

Kanoa Resort 52 – Duenas 16, Usi 10, Pablo 10, Lumauag 4, Cruz 2.

Scoring by quarters: 29-14, 45-26, 69-35, 92-52.