After leading in the scoreboard for the first three quarters, the Sixers were very confident about their victory.
Jennis Wright and Matthew Duenas helped gain the momentum with Wright making five baskets and Duenas, three.
Although they were behind, the IT&E cagers did not rush it throughout the game. The steady defense and offense kept the gap narrow. Esdrelon fired from behind the three-point line in the first quarter, while Mendoza heated up the second and third quarter.
In the beginning of the second half, two lay ups from IT&E’s Samson Fernandez nearly put them ahead of the Sixers.
Mendoza went onto shooting spree making 11 points, then, pushed his team to lead all the way to the final buzzer.
Sixers’ Joseph Ada almost landed a three-pointer that may have pulled them back. Matthew Duenas tried to follow up with more shot attempts, but gets fouled.
Nationals 61, Saints 37
The Bud Light CNMI Nationals left the gym with an easy win after defeating the Budweiser Saints.
After Nationals’ Dan Barcinas and Pete Iguel dominated the first quarter, Jack Lizama came in and racked up a total of 15 points, making him the leading scorer of the game.
After a couple of jump shots from Melvin Manibusan, the Budweiser Saints struggled to maintain their defense.
National’s Roberto Naraja completed a fast break with an undefended lay up in the second quarter. Aside from the Nationals’ tight offensive plays, they also controlled the court with a well positioned defense strategy.
James Lee proved this after intercepting the ball twice, offering him the chance to make a two pointer shortly before the second quarter ended.
As soon as the second half began, the Saints faced a losing battle. Nationals’ Peter Mendiola helped out with a few more two pointers. By the fourth quarter, the Nationals simply ran away with 21 more points.
Mendiola capped their win with a free throw shot.
Scores:
Hoegaarden IT&E 72 – E. Esdrelon 16, R. Talania 10, M. Capalad 10, S. Fernandez 12, E. Mendoza 21, B. Berline 3
Michelob Ultra Sixers 66 – J. Ada 26, J. Wright 17, E. Duenas 4, M. Duenas 17, K. Belyeu-Cabrera 2
Quarterscores: 19-16, 32-28, 51-45, 66-72
Scores:
Bud Light CNMI Nationals 61 – T. Quan 3, P. Iguel 7, D. Barcinas 12, J. Lizama 15, R. Naraja 4, J. Lee 4, P. Mendiola 6, K. Chariton 2, J. Villacrusis 2, C. Johnson 6
Budweiser Saints 37 – J. Camacho 6, L. Reyes 1, M. Manibusan 11, J. Tumaquip 6, L. Reyes 4, J. White 2, L. Reyes 1, J. Kapileo 6
Quarterscores: 13-7, 27-20, 40-29, 61-37
