By Jonathan V. Perez
Variety News Staff

HOTEL Nikko Saipan and Hafa Adai Beach Tower Hotel scored similar lopsided victories over separate opponents in the continuation of the 2006-2007 Inter-Hotel Basketball League/HANMI Cup last Tuesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym.
Ronald Delos Reyes carried the fight for Hotel Nikko in scoring an 81-64 triumph over Marianas Resort & Spa while Pedro Iguel and Michael Olaitiman were the heroes as Hafa Adai thrashed World Resort Hotel, 106-82.
Nikko’s win improved its record to 2-3 to climb to fifth place behind tournament favorite and league-leading Aqua Resort’s perfect 3-0 record. The loss was the third in four games for Marianas Resort.
Delos Reyes scored 17 of his game-high 28 points in the second half as Nikko slowly pulled away in the game.
Holding a still manageable 56-51 advantage after the third quarter, Hotel Nikko poured it on in the final period to finally silence Marianas Resort.
Delos Reyes’ consistent scoring and the team’s suffocating defense delivered the final blows to Marianas Resort’s gritty stand.
Hotel Nikko held Marianas resort to a season-low 13 points in the final canto.
Delos Reyes was also a force under the boards finishing with 13 rebounds and adding two assists under his name.
Joey Elayda backed him up with 16 points while Clifton Silil added 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Elmer Pineda only scored two points but collared 11 rebounds and had four assists also for Nikko.
Dennis Sebastian led Marianas Resort’s losing cause with 16 points and 13 rebounds while Jayson Gatdula tallied 14 markers. Samson De Tomas finished with 12 points.
In the second game, Hafa Adai barged into the win column with a masterful 106-82 victory over World Resort.
Pedro Iguel scattered 39 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, had three assists, three steals and two shot blocks as he almost single-handedly led Hafa Adai to its first win in three tries.
The win snapped Hafa Adai’s two-game slide while World Resort absorbed its third loss in as many games.
Iguel had plenty of support from Michael Olaitiman who finished with 29 points, eight rebounds, three steals and a game-high 10 assists.
Fernan Calayag and Nathan Kapileo combined for 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists also for Hafa Adai. Kapileo also had three steals.
World Resort’s loss put to waste the sterling performances of Gerry Dayo, Alex Palma, James Mariano, Nabil Murday and Rogel Caruana.
Dayo had 20 points and 11 rebounds while Murday also finished with a double-double with 12 points and a season-high 16 rebounds.
Palma, Mariano and Caruana chipped in 15, 13 and 10 points for World Resort.
Scores:
First Game
Hotel Nikko Saipan 81 — Delos Reyes 28, Elayda 16, Silil 10, Fernandez 8, Isip 7, Manalo 5, Salazar 4, Pineda 3
Mariana Resort & Spa 64 — Sebastian 16, Gatdula 14, De Tomas 12, Usi 9, Capuli 4, Abagat 2, Alvares 2, Geva 2, Meimban 2, Espejo 1
Quarterscores: 25-17, 16-20, 15-14, 25-13
Second Game
Hafa Adai Beach Hotel 106 — Iguel 39, Olaitiman 29, Calayag 11, Kapileo 11, Alcober 6, Andal 4, Tengco 4, Rodriguez 2
World Resort Hotel 82 — Gayo 20, Alex Palma 15, Mariano 13, Murday 12, Caruana 10, Tagabuel 6, Madridano 5, Alvin Palma 1
Quarterscores: 29-12, 36-25, 25-26, 16-19