Two in a row for Ace, Duenas Compound

Duenas Compound’s Matt Duenas, right, is fouled by a Talaabwogh Stars defender during an earlier game in the MIBF outdoor caging at the San Antonio court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Ace Hardware and Duenas Compound forced a three-way deadlock for second place with Saipan Apparel after winning their respective games in the Mariana Islands Basketball Federation’s Inaugural Men’s Outdoor League last week.

Duenas Compound downed GMI Market, 73-60, in last Wednesday’s curtain-raiser at the San Antonio court, while over at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium last Friday, Ace Hardware walloped the Talaabwogh Stars, 81-57. Duenas Compound and Ace Hardware matched Saipan Apparel’s 2-0 record and the three tied squads are just a victory behind league leader Ol’Aces (3-0).

Ace Hardware bagged its second victory in as many games after dominating the Talaabwogh Stars in the last three quarters of their match that was moved to Ada Gym from the San Antonio court due to rain.

The Talaabwogh Stars were still in the game after the first period, behind by only 4 points, 11-15, before Ace Hardware went to business and stretched the advantage to double figures by halftime, 35-23. Ken Viray, Mike Babauta, Sidney Quan, and Jose Sablan teamed up for Ace Hardware in widening the gap as the foursome knocked in at least two baskets apiece in the second quarter.

Ace Hardware made it a 17-point lead, entering the fourth frame, as Viray continued to hit his target in the third and found a new ally in Don Brennan, who scored 7 points in the penultimate canto. The Talaabwogh Stars, with their depleted roster, failed to overhaul the double-digit deficit in the fourth period to absorb their third loss in as many games.

Viray paced Ace Hardware with his 21 points, while Quan and Brennan chipped in 16 and 15, respectively.

In last Wednesday’s game, Duenas Compound played better in the second half en route to the 13-point victory.

Duenas Compound was behind at the break, 24-29, but managed to grab the driver’s seat in the third, 47-44, thanks to Matt Duenas’ 8 points, 6 of them came in succession late in that period. Duenas Compound never relinquished the lead from thereon, as Duenas drew a lot of help from his teammates in the fourth frame. Ray and Ernest Duenas, Douglas Schmidt, and Jun Hernandez combined for 19 points in the final canto, while Matt added 7 more to give Duenas Compound a 2-0 mark in the 11-team field.

Friday Game
Ace Hardware 81 — Viray 21, Quan 16, Brennan 15, Hammond 5, J. Sablan 4, Younis 4,Rosario 4, Babauta 4, B. Sablan 4.

Talaabwogh Stars 57 — Pelisamen 17, J. Lifoifoi 10, H. Aguon 9, Evangelista 8, Kani 7, M. Aguon 4, F. Lifoifoi 2.

Scoring by quarters: 15-11, 35-23, 56-39, 81-57.

Wednesday Game
Duenas Compound 73 — Matt Duenas 20, Schmidt 14, R. Duenas 12, E. Duenas 8, Santos 7, Hernandez 4, Inos 3, Del Rosario 2.

GMI Market 60 — M. Sison 10, Alipio 10, P. Factor 9, G. Sison 7, Fidelino 6, Senupe 5, Banayag 5, Tolosa 4, Doseo 4, Romo 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-15, 24-29, 47-44, 73-53.