Fiesta-Grand and Hyatt cruise past foes

League-leading Fiesta-Grand Hotel and Hyatt Regency Saipan cruised past their opponents as second round action in the 2nd Annual HANMI Cup Inter-Hotel Basketball League continued last Wednesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. Fiesta-Grand streaked to its eight straight win after a 110-96 victory over upset-conscious Saipan World Resort, while Hyatt slammed the Marlon Bamba-led Hafadai Beach Hotel, 103-83. It was the eighth win in nine games for Fiesta-Grand and they continued to lead the seven-team field while handing World Resort its seventh loss against two wins. Ryan Sanciangco and Elmer Esdrelon continued to pace the Fiesta-Grand offense but this time they had plenty of help from William Opone, who joined in the scoring fray. Sanciangco and Esdrelon ended up with their usual numbers of 40 and 29 points, respectively, but it was Opone's second-half exploits that made the difference for Fiesta-Grand. Opone, after being held to two points in the first half, scored 11 points in the second half to help Fiesta-Grand rally back from several nine-point deficits in the third quarter. His consistent shooting also kept World Resort at bay. Opone finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and one steal. Esdrelon also had 10 rebounds, three assists, and six steals. Noel David added 11 points also for Fiesta-Grand. Jerryfel Mangahis paced World Resort with 25 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while backcourt mate Dennis Vinas had 22 points, three rebounds, five assists, and five steals before fouling out in the final two minutes of the game. James Wabinga and Jam Navarro combined for 23 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, while Schneider Lanzo only had five points but grabbed a team high nine rebounds against Fiesta-Grand's big men.
In the second game, Hyatt took Hafadai center Marlon Bamba out of his comfort zone to breeze to a 103-83 victory. Hyatt ganged up Bamba whenever he received the ball inside the shaded area, at times double-teaming the Hafadai workhorse to force him to commit a turnover or kick out the ball. Bamba fell into early foul trouble picking up his third with still four minutes left in the first quarter. Steven Tenorio sacrificed his body to force Bamba's third foul, establishing his position against a charging Bamba to draw the charge. Hafadai was within striking distance when Bamba was pulled out of the game and only trailed Hyatt by six, 9-15. With Bamba gone, Hyatt went on a closing 14-4 exchange with Tenorio's triple touching off that scoring binge. Bamba was inserted in the second quarter and barely two minutes gone was whistled for his fourth foul, his third offensive foul, this time Mike Umali drawed the charge with 7:59 to go. From there it was an all Hyatt show as Bamba rode the bench for most of the match and when he came back in the third quarter, Hyatt was already up by 24 points. Edsel Mendoza (-F) led Hyatt with 25 points and five rebounds, while Bernard Aquino had 19 markers, five rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Tenorio had his first double-double of the season, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds to go with his four assists, while Umali added 16 markers, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Bamba had his sixth career double-double game with 27 points and 12 rebounds, but those numbers were not enough to lift Hafadai to victory. He also had two steals and two shot blocks. Peter Iguel added 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Remar Mendoza and Mike Olaitiman combined for 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
Courtesy of www.saipantribune.com