Two in a row for Shirley’s Coffee Shop

Shirley’s Coffee Shop’s Sean Rabasto escapes with a fastbreak layup against Top Development, Inc.’s Sefich Lorenzo during the fourth quarter of their game in the JP World caging last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

With the win, Shirley’s, which opened its campaign in the nine-team field with an 88-74 triumph over Joeten last week, joined Micronesian Brokers, Inc./Anchor (2-0) in the lead, while Top Development fell to a 0-2 slate at the bottom of the standings tied with idle Joeten.

Shirley’s set the tone of its game against Top Development early and was never threatened, as skills of the former’s players proved to be too much for the lather’s.

Ernest Duenas was among the Shirley’s players to cause problems to Top Development as he showed no respect to their foe’s defense by hitting a variety of shots. He finished with a game-high 33 points, delivering the killer blows in the end after scoring 12 of Shirley’s last 14 points.

The burly forward also started things out for Shirley’s, as he knocked in 11 points in the first quarter to lift his team to an early double-digit spread, 29-13. Erick Dela Rosa and Sean Rabasto backed Duenas up, adding 8 markers apiece.

Duenas sat out majority of the second quarter, but still Shirley’s had a steady source of offense in Pagarao. The flashy guard suited up in the league for the first time after missing their game against Joeten and nailed 9 of his 14 points in the second canto to keep Shirley’s safe margin at the break, 47-32. John Jugos also contributed in the second period chipping in 7.

Shirley’s went on to protect its double-digit spread in the third, 72-57, as Duenas, Rabasto, and Pagarao got their acts together at the resumption of the match. Duenas added 12 more points, while Rabasto and Pagarao combined for 11 in the third frame.

Rabasto was still at it early in the fourth, as he canned his third triple of the night to pad Shirley’s lead to as much as 18 before Top Development made a little rally and moved within nine, 78-69. Despite losing the twin-margin, Shirley’s kept its composure with Duenas returning to the floor and scoring successive baskets.

The former Saipan Southern High School standout outgunned Raymond Velasco, who led Top Development with his 24 markers.

Shirley’s 94 – Duenas 32, Pagarao 14, Rabasto 14, Jugos 12, Dela Rosa 11, Pamintuan 7, Manibusan 2.

Top Development 77 – Velasco 24, Lorenzo 14, Reyes 13, Arreza 10, Mafnas 4, Lumayag 2, Barros 2, Rolusio 2.

Scoring by quarters: 29-13, 47-32, 72-57, 94-77.