Sweep for Sonics; Fiesta still perfect

Fiesta Resort’s Chevy Kate Alipio pulls up for a shot against Shirley’s Coffee Shop’s Joy Jones during the second quarter of their women’s division game in the TanHoldings holiday caging last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The 670 Sonics earned an immaculate mark in the regular season of the 2016 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament, while Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan also kept its undefeated record at the completion of last Saturday’s matches at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

The Sonics finished the round-robin elimination of the boys U16 division with a 7-0 card following a 65-46 rout of Rollers 1 (4-2), while Fiesta Resort improved its record to 4-0 after a similar easy victory over Shirley’s Coffee Shop (0-6), 24-2, in the women’s division.

Khristian Itaas led the Sonics’ demolition of Rollers 1 after scoring 18 points. Bryan De Guzman and Rafael Ordona also broke into double figures, providing enough support to Itaas after making 11 markers each.

The Sonics, who are already in the semifinals, took a 38-28 advantage after the first half and kept going in the second to pad their lead.

Fiesta Resort was also ahead in the first half, 10-1, and was never threatened as Shirley’s played its worst game in the tournament after failing to make a single field goal in the match.

Shirley’s never got into its rhythm and nearly forfeited the game as only three players were available at the start time. Fiesta Resort agreed to give its foes more time to wait for enough reinforcements and a few minutes later three more Shirley’s players came.

Meanwhile, four other games were played last Saturday, while matches last Monday were rescheduled due to the damage in one of the rims at the gym.

In the women’s division, IT&E and Sun Palace coasted past their respective foes.

IT&E whipped QQ Rent A Car, 53-28, for the former’s fourth straight win in five games. QQ Rent A Car fell to a 1-3 record.

Jan Travilla top-scored in IT&E’s 25-point win against QQ Rent A Car after posting 12 points, while Karleen Reyes contributed 9.

Duplicating IT&E’s double-digit victory was Sun Palace, which crushed Jingle Ballers, 30-11. Jeralyn Castillo and Friendly Joy Pena teamed up in powering Sun Palace past the Jingle Ballers after registering 13 points apiece.

In the boys U16 division, MHS pounded Gen Cup, 64-40, to boost its playoff bid.

MHS now has a 4-2 record to tie Rollers 1 in second place behind the unbeaten Sonics. Only the Top 4 teams after the round-robin elimination will advance to the playoffs.

Jediael Manalo again paced MHS’ win after logging 14 points. E.J. Abejo and Sunjoon Tenorio backed Manalo up after chipping in 12 and 11 markers, respectively.

Chang Zhao had 14 points for Gen Cup, which dropped to a 1-4 record and is out of contention.

Also likely to join Gen Cup in the showers are the Rollers 2 and Ol’Aces 1 despite the latter’s 45-27 victory in the battle of winless squads last weekend.

The Ol’Aces 1 lost its first three games before beating Rollers 2, which holds a dismal 0-5 record in the eight-team field. Duncan Laxa helped the Ol’Aces 1 snap its skid after firing 16 points in their victory over Rollers 2.