Defending champion Mobil and Armatech routed their separate foes during the opening of the Emon Lodge No. 179 Brotherhood Basketball League 2013/Docomo Pacific Cup yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Mobil crushed the Blazers in the first match, 91-69, while Armatech also nailed an easy 81-55 triumph over Mariana Resort in the second game of the league’s opening day.

The defending champion Mobil started their title defense bid without key play Jun Estolas, who was slapped with a two-year suspension last season after an altercation with Marlon De Dios in the semifinals. However, Mobil did not miss Estolas’ offense that much, as prolific scorer Freddie Pelisamen suited up for the back-to-back champion. The former CNMI Men’s National Team member scored 29 points, anchoring a second-quarter breakaway.

The Marvin Deocares-coached Mobil was ahead by only six at the end of the first period, 18-12, when Pelisamen scored in streaks on two occasions. Midway in the second, he dropped 8 straight markers before ending the quarter with three consecutive triples to lift Mobil to a commanding 50-23 halftime lead.

It was cruise control from Mobil from thereon, as Pelisamen continued to sizzle and got support from Zack Babauta and another hotshot Marvin Rabauliman. Babauta contributed 21 markers, while Rabauliman chipped in 18. Mobil outgunned the Blazers from the three-point area, making 9 triples against only two from the latter.

Don Brennan made one of the Blazers’ two triples and he top-scored for his team after tallying 20 markers. Three other Blazers players also logged double figures, but they were mostly garbage points.

In the second game, Armatech also seized control of its match against Mariana Resort in the second canto en route to the 26-point win.

Mariana Resort was held to 7 points in the second period, allowing Armatech to turn a 16-11 advantage to a 37-18 lead at the break. Mariana Resort struggled on offense as its players were intimidated by the towering presence in the paint of 6’9” Armatech center Ken McCain.

With McCain manning Armatech’s frontline, Mariana Resort was forced to either attempt outside or changed their shots in mid air. At one point in the match, Mariana Resort slasher Leo Galarse had to unload a layup with his back turn against McCain to avoid getting blocked.

McCain completed his good defense with a decent offense, scoring 10 points, six of them came from downtown. Bulk of Armatech’s points came from its guards with Brandon Talania and Noel David scoring 18 apiece, and Manolo Manalo adding 15.

Talania scored two quick baskets early in the first period and Armatech went on to take a 12-4 advantage and never relinquished the driver’s seat since then, as Mariana Resort failed to get its offense going. Mariana Resort could not get its act together as players arrived late one after another.

Meanwhile, five more teams are entered in this year’s Emon Lodge caging. The list includes San Roque, KFC/Taco Bell, Pacific Islands Club, the Ol’Aces, and Proa. Games will be played every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings.

First Game

Mobil 91 - Pelisamen 29, Babauta 21, Rabauliman 18, Peredo 10, Ruluked 9, De Guzman 5, Galzote 2.

Blazers 69 - Brennan 20, Maratita 14, S. Sablan 12, L. Sablan 11, Younis 2, Quan 2, Taitano 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-12, 50-23, 73-43, 91-69.

Second Game

Armatech 81 - Talania 18, David 18, Manalo 15, McCain 10, Guiab 8, Esdrelon 8, Santos 4, Gabaldon 2.

Mariana Resort 55 - Joyner 13, Mangali 10, Sison 7, Moises 7, Galarse 5, Saturno 5, Montes 4, Fitial 4.

Scoring by quarters: 16-11, 37-18, 68-32, 81-55.