By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

LUTA and the Office of the Public Auditor made short work of their opponents to clinch the last two quarterfinals berths in the 2007 Inter-government Basketball League last Monday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym.
Luta whipped the Ports Police, 84-57, while OPA pounded the Department of Corrections, 108-65, to join NMC, DCCA, DPW/P&S, All Out, ARFF and defending champion Tinian in the next round.
Luta allowed the Ports Police to score no more than 11 points in each of the first quarter to cruise to an easy victory.
With Luta getting contributions from every player it fielded in the first quarter, it took a 26-11 lead, entering the second period.
The Ports Police had another less than productive period nailing only 10 points in the second quarter giving Luta a 46-21 halftime lead.
The Ports Police failed to find their marks anew at the start of the second half drilling only 11 points in the third quarter, which ended with Luta comfortably ahead at 64-32.
The only time the Ports Police broke the 11-point barrier was in the fourth period, as they scored 25 points. But it was not enough to save them from elimination and join the Legislature, DPS Enforcers, Corrections, Customs and PSS in the showers.
With the win, Luta will challenge Tinian tonight at 8 p.m. for a semis slot.
It will be an interesting match as most of Luta’s players were the ones who played for the DPS Enforcers, who lost to Tinian in last year’s finals, after the Enforcers decided not to play in Game 3 of their title series.
OPA will be playing in the first game tonight at 6:30 p.m. against All Out.
OPA easily made it to the quarterfinals, as it drew double figures from six players en route to a 43-point win over Corrections.
Ed Diaz led OPA with 19 points, Steve Easa added 16, Ponce Rasa had 13, Chris Camacho and Ton Dela Cruz contributed 12 apiece and Taula Peter chipped in 11.
Corrections kept OPA within striking distance only in the first quarter, as the former was down by only six, 18-22.
But OPA stepped on the gas pedal in the second quarter with a 28-14 scoring splurge to take a 50-32 halftime lead.
OPA never looked back from thereon as they continued to have balanced offense in the second half, while Corrections had problems with their offensive game.
None of the four quarters di Corrections score more than 19 points.
Meanwhile, DCCA was facing DPW/P&S for the first semis ticket last night, while NMC and ARFF were fighting for the second semis slot. The results of neither game were unavailable at press time.
Scores:
First Game
Luta 84—Sablan 13, Celes 12, C. Hocog 10, Pelisamen 10, Mendiola 6, Ayuyu 6, J. Hocog 6, Palacios 5, Diaz 5, Warfield 3, Brostrom 2.
Ports Police 57—Yu 16, Maratita 11, Guerrero 9, Kaipat 7, De Gracia 4, Borja 3.
Quarterscores: 26-11, 46-21, 64-32, 84-57
Second Game
OPA 108—Diaz 19, S. Rasa 16, P. Rasa 13, Dela Cruz 12, Camacho 12, Peter 11, Aaron 6, Wesley 4, Torres 4.
Corrections 65—Blas 25, Iramk 14, Quitugua 7, Kapileo 5, P. Sablan 5, R. Sablan 3, Castro 2, Joab 2.
Quarterscores: 18-22, 50-32, 80-49, 108-65