By Candy Taman

The battle for 3rd place in the Tamuning Summer Jam recreation division dwindle down Wednesday night as team Chow Jitsu rode a hot streak from three-point land and a 20-point performance from GSPN player of the game Kerman Melsior to beat the Elegant Reflection Bandits 69-54.

Chow Jitsu (4-2) grabs 3rd place with the win and will face the Thunder (1-5) in the playoffs opening round. The Bandits (3-3) will have to battle against Ada’s Trust (3-3) in the first round while the top seeded Tamuning Typhoons get a first round bye.

Playoff action for the recreational league begins next weekend.

GSPN reporter Candy Taman poses with player of the game Kerman Melsior who dropped 20 points in the win. (photo by Dan Paran)

Hot Start

Christian Cruz started off action at the Tamuning gym Wednesday night nailing back-to-back 3-pointers accompanied by a steal the nights win. Though Cruz seemed to have the magic touch, it was Kerman “Hammer” Melsior who had the fever dropping 20 points with a combination of hot shooting and shifty layups on the Bandits.

Reflections forward Jared Meno looked comfortable early on testing Chow Jitsu’s interior along with fearless help in Errol Alegre, Derin Santos and Tyler Tanaka, but it was their perimeter work that proved useful to keep the game close.

In the latter part of the first half Jitsu center Derrick Price introduced himself inside but was greeted by Alegre Jr for a block to pause momentum. The already fired up Melsior would tag teammate Kenneth Cruz Jr. with a half ending three to close out the half with Chow Jitsu leading 31-27

Holding Off Bandits

In the second half of play it would be Bandits’ Arvin Flores teaming up with Meno to keep their team afloat, but not before Jitsu center Price would find his rhythm and drop eight-points inside to weaken the Bandits defense. The “Hammer” would tack on an additional nine points to secure the breakaway win over Elegant Reflections in the Adult Tamuning Summer Jam league.

The Bandits then tried to put their best defensive lineup to slow down Melsior and the streaky shooting, but their own offensive woes caught up to them going empty from down town in the final 10 minutes of action.

PHOTO GALLERY:

Left wide open, Christian Cruz sinks a three before Elegant Reflections defense could react. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Derrick Price of Chow Jitsu prepares to shoot from just under the basket. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Chow Jitsu’s Kerman Melsior Jr. with the fadeaway shot to avoid the defense. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Jarred Meno makes an attempt to break past Chow Jitsu defense. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Elegant Reflections’ Chach Bola Bola tries to reach out for the rebound. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Tyler Tanaka of Elegant Reflections takes a shot from the inside over Chowjitsu’s Moises Vasquez. (photo by Daniel Paran)