By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
THE 2026 Priority Care Inter-Business/Government League delivered a pair of nail-biting games Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, with Customs outlasting the Federals and CUC slipping past Guns & Hoses.
The nightcap featured a fierce battle as Customs outlasted the Feds, 77–72.
Customs came out hot, with Paul Quizon and Jude Tengco firing at will in the opening quarter to take a 20–16 lead. However, the Feds responded with a gritty second-quarter performance led by their scoring trio of Tim Wesley, Chris Sanchez, and Leo Apelo, using a 22–16 run to grab a 38–36 halftime lead.
The third quarter still belonged to the Feds. Apelo continued to punish defenders with his ability to draw fouls, scoring repeatedly from the charity stripe to help his team maintain a 57–52 advantage heading into the final period.
But momentum began to shift toward Customs in the fourth quarter.
Tengco, who stayed hot from start to finish, sparked the rally by scoring 12 straight points — including an and-one play — to swing the momentum back to Customs. Don Teregeyo and Quizon provided veteran leadership down the stretch as Customs executed late to secure the 77–72 victory despite strong efforts from Wesley and Apelo.
CUC vs. Guns & Hoses
The opening game saw CUC survive a highly contested battle with Guns & Hoses.
CUC established an early rhythm, leading 19–16 after the first quarter and extending the advantage to 41–34 at halftime. Guns & Hoses kept the pressure on throughout the second half but struggled to find the edge needed to overcome CUC’s steady offense.
The final period turned into a defensive grind. With the game hanging in the balance, CUC held Guns & Hoses to just 11 points in the fourth quarter. Although Guns & Hoses mounted a late push, CUC’s early cushion proved just enough to secure the narrow 71–70 victory.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
