By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE San Antonio Sixers settled an old score with the Garapan Rollers after pulling off a 50-44 overtime win in their championship rematch in the 3rd Annual Christmas Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym last Friday.
The Sixers lost to the G-Rollers, 63-54, in the 2005 finals, but foiled Garapan’s bid for back-to-back titles with a six-point triumph in the extra period.
Ian Benavente led the Sixers’ victory drilling a game-high 21 points, including three in the extension period.
Benavente was later named the Most Valuable Player in the tournament.
It was a come-from-behind win for the Sixers, who bowed to the G-Rollers in the elimination round of the three-day tournament.
The G-Rollers controlled the first half of the match with Mike Bondoc connecting from outside.
Bondoc had two triples in the first quarter, while JR Concepcion added four points to give the G-Rollers a 16-8 lead at the end of the opening canto.
Benavente, who was held to two points in the first quarter, brought the Sixers back into the game firing 11 points in the second period.
Benavente grabbed defensive and offensive rebounds, shot short jumpers and undergoal baskets to move the Sixers within two at halftime, 21-23.
The San Antonio-based team stole the lead at the end of the third period, 29-28, as it held the G-Rollers to five points in that canto.
The crucial fourth quarter was a neck-and-neck battle and ended in a tie, 39-all, as neither team was ready to wave the white flag.
After trailing at the end of the third quarter, Bondoc led the G-Rollers’ comeback firing seven of their team’s 11 points in the payoff period.
Benavente and Chris Duenas were in charge for the Sixers in the fourth quarter combining for eight of San Antonio’s 10 markers in that canto.
With the game tied at 39-all, the finalists played for another five minutes with the Sixers showing a deeper bench and more balanced scoring to dethrone the G-Rollers.
Four Sixers players scored in the overtime, while the G-Rollers had only Bondoc and Jason Palacios contributing on Garapan’s offense.
Bondoc drilled the G-Rollers lone fieldgoal in the extension period, while Palacios nailed all his three points from the free throw line. Palacios shot 3-of-6 from the 15-foot line.
Benavente also scored all his points in the overtime from the free throw line firing 3-of-6. But his teammates stepped up in the extra period with Chris Duenas scoring four and Tristan Ecalnae and Josh Duenas adding two markers apiece.
Chris Duenas finished with 13 points, while Ecalnae chipped in eight. Aaron Agtarap added six.
Bondoc led the G-Rollers with 20 points, while Palacios contributed nine markers. JR Concepcion also scored nine points, but he had only two points in the second half and failed to play in overtime due to his disqualification (five fouls).
Scores:
(Boys’Finals)
Sixers 50—Benavente 21, C. Duenas 13, Ecalnae 8, Agtarap 6, Salem 2, J. Duenas 2.
G-Rollers 44—Bondoc 20, Palacios 9, Concepcion 9, Danas 2, Deleon Guerrero 2.
Quarterscores: 8-16, 21-23, 29-28, 39-all (regulation), 50-44 (OT)