Easy Riders’ Cris Diwa dishes out a pass in midair during a semifinal game of the 2023 Saipan Magalahi Eagles Club Invitational Basketball League at the Gualo Rai basketball court on Saturday.
Easy Riders’ Jorge De Guzman posts against a defender during a semifinal game of the 2023 Saipan Magalahi Eagles Club Invitational Basketball League at the Gualo Rai basketball court on Saturday.
EASY Riders and Checkpoint, both undefeated, reached the finals of the 2023 Saipan Magalahi Eagles Club Invitational Basketball League after trouncing their respective opponents Saturday at the Gualo Rai basketball court.
Easy Riders bested The Game-Eats Easy, 64-51.
It was a fairly even match in the first half of the game.
Easy Riders moved well as a team as they worked their way inside with Austin Camacho and Cris Diwa highlighting the offense with four points each to give their team a slight lead in the opening quarter, 12-11.
In the second canto, The Game started to gain momentum as Francisco Mizutani heated up with seven straight points, including a three-pointer, followed by additional bucket from Basa as their team seized control, 28-23.
In the third quarter, Easy Riders’ Camacho continued to finish at the rim while teammates Craig Padayao, Renren Gaviola, and Diwa converted two buckets apiece to gain a comfortable lead, 42-37.
The Game tried to catch up, but Easy Riders had fresh legs in their lineup, which included Jorge De Guzman and Andrew Ashburn who kept the fuel burning en route to victory, 64-51.
Checkpoint vs CK Saints
Checkpoint held down the CK Saints, 68-57.
It was a seesaw battle throughout the first half. The CK Saints’ Eli Aughenbaugh and Dom Blas were their team’s leading scores while Checkpoint’s Jack Aranda delivered four triples as his team trailed by just one point, 25-26.
In the third period, Checkpoint started to find their rhythm with Coby Santos and Juan Camacho taking over the spotlight to stretch the gap, 46-37.
The CK Saints aimed for the quick answer with three-pointers by Leo Galarse and Don Brennan, but Checkpoint stayed on course with strong finishes at the rim led by Jeff Castro, Sid Quan, and Tony Kim to triumph, 68-57.
Scores
Easy Riders 64 – Craig Padayao 12, Frank Ferrer 11, Austin Camacho 8, Cris Diwa 10, Jorge De Guzman 9, Renren Gaviola 9, Andrew Ashburn 5
The Game-Eats Easy 51 – Ervin Villarin 15, Francisco Mizutani 10, CJ Ferrari 4, Preston Basa 10, JR Galang 4, Francisco Gutierez 4, DJ Ong 2, Greg De Leon Guerrero 2
***
Checkpoint 68 – Coby Santos 19, Greg Sablan 4, Sid Quan 7, Jack Aranda 17, Jeff Castro 9, Juan Camacho 4, Tony Kim 5
CK Saints 57 – Eli Aughenbaugh 12, Leo Galarse 12, Kane Ybanes 2, Dom Blas 3, Don Brennan 8, Aurel Mendiola 4, Trevor Ogumoro 2, Melvin Manibusan 2, Luizi Reyes 4, LJ Reyes 2
