By Jonathan V. Perez
Variety News Staff

EDMARK Mendoza scored 14 of his game-high 25 points in the second half to power Hyatt Regency Saipan to a 98-62 rout of World Resort Hotel as action resumed in the 2006-2007 Inter-Hotel Basketball League/HANMI Cup last Tuesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym.
The win was the third in four games for Hyatt while giving World Resort its third loss in as many games.
Mendoza set the tone of Hyatt’s offense scoring 11 points to help the Garapan-based hotel establish a 39-23 halftime lead.
Hyatt also tirelessly put defensive pressure on World Resort limiting their opponents to a season-low 10 points in the opening quarter.
Hyatt did not slow down after two quarters with Mark Umali drilling 10 of his team’s 34 points in the third quarter to outscore World Reosort, which managed just 15 markers.
The third quarter ended with Hyatt establishing a 73-38 advantage to post a 35-point margin their biggest lead of the game.
Umali finished with 20 points while Bernard Aquino, who went 6-for-6 at the free throw line, added 21 markers to provide support to Mendoza.
Aquino also had a game-high seven assists while Bobby Vargas finished with seven rebounds, three assists and one shot block to go with his five points.
No World Resort player finished in double figures.
Gerry Gayo had nine points and 10 rebounds while Nabil Murday and Alex Palma combined for 16 points, nine rebounds and four steals.
James Mariano, Patrick Vargas and Romeo Montano chipped in seven points each.
Hyatt also played more as a team with Aquino and Umali dictating the team’s offense resulting in a 22-7 edge in assists.
Fiesta Resort & Spa was supposed to play Marianas Resort & Spa but the game did not take place as neither team showed up due to a miscommunication in the schedule.
HANMI Cup league commissioner Ramon Awit said the teams were not immediately informed when their game is to be played at a latter date.
Scores:
Hyatt Regency Saipan 98 – Mendoza 25, Aquino 21, Umali 20, Dillay 8, Rodriguez 6, Vargas 5, Garcia 3, Calub 2, Tolentino2, Tomokane 2, Villamor 2, Yamamoto 2.
World Resort Hotel 62 – Gayo 9, Murday 8, Alex Palma 8, Caruana 7, Mariano 7, Vargas 7, Montano 6, Navarro 4, Conrad 2, Erick 2, Roman 2
Quarter scores: 20-10, 19-13, 34-15, 25-24