Too easy for IT&E

IT&E’s Jaymark De Guzman, center, goes up for a shot against Mystique BBQ’s Mii Tekopua, right, and Ariel Moises during their game in the 2019 Atkins Kroll Marianas International Basketball League last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

IT&E notched a pair of wins in lopsided fashion to remain at the top half of the team standings in the 2019 Atkins Kroll Marianas International Basketball League.

IT&E first hammered Mystique BBQ last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, 100-76, and then pounced on TanHoldings last Tuesday, 126-83, to improve to a 6-1 record for second place, just slightly behind league-leading Saipan Vegas (6-0). Mystique is done for the season and has been ousted with its 2-7 mark, joining TanHoldings (0-7) in the showers, as only the Top 4 teams after the round-robin elimination will advance to the playoffs.

Elmer Esdrelon top-scored for IT&E in their rout of Mystique after firing 21 points. He knocked in two early triples and finished the first quarter with 10 markers to give IT&E a 31-21 advantage.

IT&E went on to widen the gap in second period after a 16-4 run in the first six minutes of that canto and wrapped up the opening half with a 57-37 lead. It was still all IT&E in the second half, as each player it fielded in the game found ways to contribute to the team’s cause, while only Jetzen Jandoc countered for Mystique.

Jandoc led Mystique with his 15 markers.

Meanwhile, the playoff-bound IT&E drew 20-plus points from four players, as the winning squad toyed around the defense of TanHoldings for the lopsided victory.

Errol Peredo sizzled for 32 points, Gerald Flores added 28, while Marlon De Dios and Bart Demapan chipped in 23 and 22, respectively.

The quartet combined for 30 points in the first quarter alone, lifting IT&E to a 36-21 advantage. Flores and De Dios then kept going in the second frame with the former making 13 points and the latter adding 10 for their 67-44 lead at the break.

It was all over for TanHoldings after that, as it could not match the offensive firepower of IT&E’s gunners.

Peredo and Demapan finished off TanHoldings after teaming up for 24 points in the final quarter.

Saturday Game
IT&E 100—Esdrelon 21, Aranda 17, Flores 13, Rabasto 12, Demapan 9, Barbo 8, Peredo 6, De Dios 5, De Guzman 4, Talania 4.
Mystique 76—Jandoc 15, Bernardo 12, Jose 9, Broncano 8, Moises 7, Galulu 6, Tekopua 5, Torres 5, Isip 5, Castillo 4.
Scoring by quarters: 31-21, 57-37, 77-54, 100-76.

Tuesday Game
IT&E 126—Peredo 32, Flores 28, De Dios 23, Demapan 22, Talania 10, Esdrelon 8, De Guzman 3.
TanHoldings 83—Dayao 33, Tenepere 16, Torregoza 16, Lumen 12, Echavez 6.
Scoring by quarters: 36-21, 67-44, 92-62, 126-83.