Teams Idid 4x4 Wheelers and Matakui improved their chances in the play off round after beating separate foes, Friday night in the IP&E Amateur Basketball League (ABL) at the Palau National gym.

Idid 4x4 Wheelers took Game One of their best of three series beating the Ngerchelong Blue Sharks, 79-64. 4x4 Wheelers took on an early lead as they established a 20-12 run in the first quarter. They then unleashed a 30-15 run in the third as they further their lead with 61-41 going into the final canto.

From there, Idid 4x4 Wheelers held on to take the win. Temol Malsol led the charge with 15 as Jovani Siliang and Gino Smau chipped in 13 and 11, respectively. Leo Sebastian clipped 18 as he led the Blue Sharks while teammates Mark Pagayanan and Hayden Ngiralmau chipped in 17 and 12 on the losing side.

On the other hand, Matakui rolled out to take Game One of their own series besting Meyuns Red Storm, 95-71. Dennis Castro and Al Obrero led the chores for Matakui with 22 and 20 while Ditz Rengechel topscored for the Red Storm with 25 on the losing end.

In other games, Hanpa Cardinals beat Raw Surf, 101-98; Papago Smooth won over the Breakers, 72-52; and Ranchers defeated the Stingers, 108-75.

Games will resume tonight with Lawmen PEAC against Ngaraard Red Torch at 6 p.m. followed by the PCC Mesekiu-Ngermid Rivals match at 7:30 p.m. while the Breakers will meet Papago Smooth in the main game at 9 p.m.

Matches on Wednesday night will feature Stingers versus Ranchers at 6 p.m. as Raw Surf will face Hanpa Cardinals at 7:30 p.m. while Matakui will take on Meyuns Red Storm at 9 p.m.

Thursday games will have Idid 4x4 Wheelers taking on Ngerchelong Blue Sharks at 6 p.m. as Ngiwal 79ers will again take on Melngoes at 7:30 p.m. while the Ikelauans will test again the Ididers in the main game at 9 p.m.

Teams are reminded to use their uniform in every game. The jersey/t-shirts should match with the shorts and their numbers. Teams will be charged $25 for failure to comply and will be defaulted.

Teams this season, teams are divided into two pools. Pool A will have Papago Smooth, Ngarchelong Blue Shark, Ngaraard Red Torch, Hanpa Cardinals, Surangel Kings, Meyuns Red Storm, Melngoes, Ranchers, Ididers and Ngermid Rivals. Pool B will be composed of MEDA Boys, Matakui, Idid 4x4 Wheelers, Ikelauans, Stingers, Lawmen PEAC, Raw Surf, Breakers, Airwaves and PCC Mesekiu.

The tournament, which is supervised by the Palau Basketball Federation (PBF), is a tobacco, alcohol and drug free program. For more information call Topps at 488-4491. By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)