Vik Team’s Randel Nicodamus extends for the floater during a playoff game in the open division of the 2023 Saipan Magalahi Eagles Club Invitational Basketball League on Wednesday at the Gualo Rai basketball court.
Vik Team’s San De Vero pulls up for the three-point shot during a playoff game in the open division of the 2023 Saipan Magalahi Eagles Club Invitational Basketball League on Wednesday at the Gualo Rai basketball court.
VIK Team and JSN secured their playoff spots in their respective divisions of the 2023 Saipan Magalahi Eagles Club Invitational Basketball League after eliminating their adversaries on Wednesday at the Gualo Rai basketball court.
Vik Team advanced to the open division playoffs following a blowout victory against IT&E, 97-66.
Vik Team established dominance right from the start as each of its players on the court made a contribution on the offensive end. San De Vero acted as the spark plug by sinking the first six points while his brother Ivan De Vero followed suit with six straight points.
IT&E could only find an answer from afar with three triples while Vik Team’s Yugie Cruz and Jhay Bathan finished the opening quarter with a combined score of nine points to give their team the lead, 25-11.
IT&E tried to pick up the pace in the next two periods with Henry Divinagracia, Jener Pineda, Rodjay Macaraig and Patrick Morales at the front line, but with each made shot, Vik Team had an answer on the other end to maintain a comfortable distance, 69-43.
In the fourth and final quarter, IT&E created more shot opportunities, but they had more misses than makes while Vik Team turned trash into gold on the other end led by Joseph Torres, San De Vero, and Randel Nicodamus to seal the deal, 97-66.
Masters division
In the masters division, JSN lived to fight another day after besting Gualo Rai Warriors-Win Pacific, 80-62.
JSN’s Jun Tabora carried his team with nine points in the opening quarter while teammates Cecelio Bisana and Ben Pelisamen took over the second canto to push a double-digit advantage, 39-21.
The halftime break seemed to have reenergized Win Pacific with Darwin Gonzales, Nelson Samson, and Joseph Galulu delivering the buckets, but their efforts weren’t enough as JSN continued to find the bottom of the net to remain afloat and secure the win, 80-62.
Scores:
Vik Team 97 – Joseph Torres 16, San De Vero 15, Ivan De Vero 10, Yugie Cruz 11, Randel Nicodamus 9, Sean Apasan 8, Jerome Reyes 8, Web Gontar 5, Jhay Bathan 5, Neil Ibe 4, Marlon De Dios 4, Reymark Castro 2
IT&E 66 – Patrick Morales 19, Rodjay Macaraig 14, Henry Divinagracia 13, Jener Pineda 12, Jhaypee Jose 5, Raymund Tapay 3
