Shirley’s Coffee Shop’s Greg Sablan, drives against Atkins Kroll’s John Sekool, left, and Clark Boswell during the third quarter of their game in the Open Division of the United Filipino Organization IT&E 2019 Basketball League last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Shirley’s Coffee Shop’s guns were blazing over the weekend, as it outgunned its opponents to notch a pair of wins in the Open Division of the United Filipino Organization IT&E 2019 Basketball League.
Shirley’s first ripped Atkins Kroll Toyota, 83-56, last Saturday, and then returned to the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium last Sunday to whip the Hoopaholics, 84-61. With its back-to-back wins, Shirley’s improved its record to 3-3 and is still in contention for a playoff berth.
Only the Top 4 teams after the round-robin play in the 10-squad field will advance to the playoffs and Shirley’s is in fifth place with still three games left in its schedule. The Blue Eagle leads the division with its unbeaten mark (4-0), followed by Eats Easy (5-1), Islander Rent A Car (3-1), Hoopaholics (3-2), RNV (2-3), Lakay (1-3), AK Toyota (1-4), Saipan Vegas (1-3), and Pacific Islands Club (0-3).
Shirley’s handed the Hoopaholics its second straight loss after the former’s gunners waxed hot from downtown. Shirley’s made 13 triples in last Sunday’s match to bounce back from a 10-17 deficit in the first quarter.
John Jugos led Shirley’s hot shooting from the 3-point area after firing eight triples. Ed Diaz. Ed Diaz and Jack Aranda drilled two each from beyond the arc, while Freddie Pelisamen made one.
Jugos’ three triples and two from Diaz in the second quarter helped Shirley’s grab the lead at halftime, 35-32. Shirley’s kept the upper hand in the third period with Aranda this time stepping up, scoring 8 markers for their 50-46 advantage.
Shirley’s went on to widen the gap in the final canto, as Jugos, after being held scoreless in the third, knocked in four triples to finish off the Hoopaholics.
Meanwhile, against AK Toyota, Shirley’s jumped to a 25-13 lead and never looked back, leaning on its balance offense all through the match for the lopsided win.
Five players delivered double figures for Shirley’s, including Max Muna, who had 14 markers.
Saturday Game
Shirley’s 83—Muna 14, Duenas 10, Sablan 10, Pelisamen 10, Jugos 10, Palma 6, Flores 6, Aranda 5, Diaz 4, Mendiola 4, Martin 3.
AK Toyota 56—Ferrer 25, Boswell 12, Camacho 8, Brennan 6, Sekool 5, Jones 2.
Scoring by quarters: 25-13, 45-22, 68-29, 83-56.
Sunday’s Game
Shirley’s 84—Jugos 28, Aranda 17, Diaz 15, Sablan 9, Duenas 8, Pelisamen 4, Mendiola 3, Flores 2.
Hoopaholics 61—Itibus 16, Deleon Guerrero 12, Fitial 7, Aughenbaugh 7, Manibusan 5, Cadiang 5, Tenorio 4, Cabrera 4.
Scoring by quarter: 10-17, 35-32, 50-46, 84-61.
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