By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

AQUA Resort Club extended its winning streak in the 2006-2007 NMBA Inter-Hotel Basketball League/HANMI Cup
after pounding Hyatt Regency Saipan, 102-76, last Thursday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym.
The victory was Aqua’s fifth in as many games strengthening its hold on to the No. 1 spot in the nine-team tournament.
Aqua center Dalewin Cortez was all business against Hyatt, as he drilled 29 points and collared 18 rebounds for his third straight double-double performance.
Against Saipan Grand Hotel on Jan. 11, Cortez fired 15 points and nailed 11 rebounds. He had 28 points and 10 board in their win over Hafa Adai on Dec. 14.
The 6-foot-5 Cortez, who was expected to dominate the paint, also showed his brilliance outside connecting on one triple and a couple of long jumpers. His timely outside shots in the third period helped Aqua stop Hyatt’s comeback bid.
After facing a 31-43 deficit at halftime, Hyatt worked its way back into the game at the start of the third period with Mark Mendoza burning the hoops.
A layup from Mendoza moved Hyatt within six, 39-45, with seven minutes left in the game.
But that was the closest that Hyatt could get, as big men Cortez and Cesar Ambrosio joined forces in Aqua’s breakaway midway in the third quarter.
Cortez exploded for 13 points with most of his shots coming from outside. He had one triple. Ambrosio also had a 3-pointer in the third quarter and scored seven, while Glen Aquino chipped in six, as Aqua ended the third period with a 71-50 lead.
Hyatt never recovered from thereon and dropped to a 3-2 slate.
Aside from Cortez, who was chosen as PTI Best Player of the Game, four other Aqua players scored in double figures.
Ambrosio finished with 21 points, Chris Domingo added 16 and Darwin Barbo and Aquino had 13 markers apiece.
Mendoza paced Hyatt with 30 points, but it was not enough to prevent his team from dropping from the No. 2 to the No. 3 spot in the team standings.
Fiesta Resort & Spa booted Hyatt from the No. 2 spot after the former’s 101-79 triumph over sister team Saipan Grand Hotel.
Fiesta dominated the game from start to finish to improve to a 3-2 record.
SGH absorbed its second straight loss after a 2-0 start.
Fiesta had an explosive first quarter firing 32 points, while SGH struggled offensively at the start of the match nailing only eight points.
Saipan Grand picked up the pace in the second with Dindo Pablo and Shan Seman hitting their marks. But it was not enough, as Fiesta still had control of the match at halftime, 48-27.
Elmer Esdrelon, who had 10 points in the first half, picked up where he left off in the second half adding nine more points to lead Fiesta’s winning cause.
Scores:
First Game:
Aqua 102—Cortez 29, Ambrosio 21, Domingo 16, Aquino 13, Barbo 13, Rabo 5, Alcantara 3, Johannes 2.
Hyatt 76—Mendoza 30, Arreza 17, Umali 12, Aquino 10, Yamamoto 4, Vargas 2, Calub 1.
Quarterscores: 19-11, 43-31, 71-50, 102-76.
Second Game
Fiesta 101—Esdrelon 19, Macoto 17, Alipala 13, Usi 11, Jinang 8, Galag 7, Ong 6, David 5, Mendoza 4, Carino 4, Quinitip 2, Villamena 2.
Saipan Grand Hotel 79—Seman 17, Opone 14, Pablo 14, Dela Torre 11, Grafil 9, Licop 7, Nunez 2, Bautista 2, Huliganga 2, Rabago 2.
Quarterscores: 32-8, 48-27, 69-53, 101-79.