Shirley’s Coffee Shop beats PIC; Saipan Vegas arrests skid

Shirley’s Coffee Shop followed up its nail-biting win against Islander Rent A Car last week with a 98-86 trashing of Pacific Islands Club Saipan in the open division of the United Filipino Organization IT&E 2019 Basketball League continued last Thursday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Shirley’s Coffee Shop’s Dennis Mendiola was named best player of the open division game last Thursday in the United Filipino Organization IT&E 2019 Basketball League. (Contributed Photo)

Dennis Mendiola lorded it over the smaller Pacific Islands Club players early and often, as the Shirley’s Coffee Shop center fired 7 points in the opening quarter to give his team a 21-20 lead.

Burly forward Matthew Duenas and former national player Ed Diaz joined in the scoring in the second in support of Mendoza as Shirley’s Coffee Shop opened up the first of many double-digit spreads and led by 10 points, 44-34, at the half.

Pacific Islands Club long-tom artist James Abuy tried to rally his team back in the third, firing 10 points, but Mendiola and Duenas continued to pile up the points in the period and Shirley’s Coffee Shop entered the payoff period on top by 18 big points, 77-59.

It was all over but the shouting as the fourth quarter turned into an extended garbage time as Shirley’s Coffee Shop cruised to the dozen-point victory.

It was the second win in five outings for Shirley’s Coffee Shop, which was led by best player of the game Mendiola’s 17 points, while Duenas added 16 in support. Abuy paced the 0-4 Pacific Islands Club with his game-high 22 markers.

Saipan Vegas’ Mico Usi was named best player of the masters division game last Thursday in the United Filipino Organization IT&E 2019 Basketball League. (Contributed Photo)

In the masters division earlier in the evening, a grieving Mico Usi towed Saipan Vegas to an 83-70 victory against Pacific Marine. Usi, who recently lost his father in the Philippines, scored 21 points to lead Saipan Vegas to its first victory after six games.

Usi scored 14 points bridging the second and third quarters to allow Saipan Vegas to erase a 15-21 deficit after the first quarter and lead 39-31 at the half. While Pacific Marine managed to make a game of its in the fourth quarter, Usi’s teammates had his back to guarantee the victory. The loss was Pacific Marine’s seventh in eight games in the 40-and-over caging.

First Game

Saipan Vegas 83 – Usi 21, Cortez 21, Bisano 16, Park 13, Barreto 8, Maplas 2.
Pacific Marine 70 – Isip 20, Flores 16, Soriano 13, Guilas 12, Manangan 5, Culunzag 2.
Scoring by quarters: 15-21, 39-31, 56-53, 83-70.

Second Game

Shirley’s Coffee Shop 98 – Mendiola 17, Duenas 16, Flores 13, Lifoifoi 11, Lisua 8, Dela Cruz 6, Sablan 6, Diaz 5, Aranda 5, Pelisamen 4, George 4.
PIC 86 – Abuy 22, Norita 16, Castro 14, Ma 12, Dan 8, Tolentino 5, Sublemente 2.
Scoring by quarters: 21-20, 44-34, 77-59, 98-86.