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Saipan Fresh boosts playoff bid in DL caging
Island’s Best Choice’s JV Bayking, right, and Saipan Fresh Market’s Maverick Itibus battle for the rebound during their game in the DL caging last Saturday at the San Antonio court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Saipan Fresh Market gained back-to-back wins last week to boost its playoff bid in the DL Sports Association Invitational Basketball League Season 5.
Saipan Fresh first downed Kalayaan, 68-54, last Thursday, and then whipped Island’s Best Choice, 80-56, last Saturday night at the San Antonio court to improve its record to 3-3 for fifth place in the team standings. The Top 8 squads after the single-round robin elimination in the nine-team field will make it to the playoffs.
Kelvin Fitial, who had 18 markers in their 14-point victory over Kalayaan, picked up where he left off, tallying 27 in their demolition of Island’s Best Choice. He led his team’s breakaway in the second half, firing 12 points in the third canto to turn a 39-30 halftime edge to a 57-39 lead, going into the fourth period. The former CNMI National Team member added 7 more in the final canto with his points coming in streak before he sat down in the last three minutes of the match, as Saipan Fresh had the game in the bag.
Fitial drew ample support from his teammates as seven other Saipan Fresh players contributed at least 4 points each. Zack Babauta added 10, Jestoni Pineda and Alex Lauron chipped in 8 apiece, and Rey Pestilos tallied 6. Dexter Tenorio and Oliver and Maverick Itibus combined for 12 markers.
JV Bayking had 15 points to lead Island’s Best Choice, which had a roller-coaster ride in the elimination round and finished the regular season with a 3-5 record.
Bayking dropped 8 of his total markers in the first period, which saw Saipan Fresh ahead by 3, 18-15, behind the 6 straight points of Fitial. Fitial was then held to two field goals in the second half, but his teammates stepped up as Saipan Fresh nearly got a double-digit advantage at the break, 39-30.
After the short breather, Fitial went back to work and Island Best’s failed to counter attack with Angelo Fernando and Matt Duenas missing the team’s last match in the elimination.
Saipan Fresh 80 — Fitial 27, Babauta 10, Lauron 8, Pineda 8, Pestillos 6, O. Itibus 4, M. Itibus 4, Tenorio 4.
Island’s Best Choice 56 — Bayking 15, Odicta 13, Bongalan 8, Devero 6, Joyner 6, M. Usi 6.
Scoring by quarters: 18-15, 39-30, 57-39, 80-56.
