Joeten slips past McDonald’s

Joeten Enterprises needed one last defensive stand in the closing seconds to escape with a 59-56 decision over McDonald’s in the 2015 JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League last Wednesday night at the TSL Sports Complex.

Gil Gapor of Team McDonald’s, right, tries to prevent Joeten Enterprises’ Sidney Quan from going baseline in their game last Wednesday night in the 2015 JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League at the TSL Sports Complex. (Jon Perez)

Joeten’s win erased the memory of a 60-88 crushing it suffered against Tan Holdings on opening day while McDonald’s dropped its second straight game.

Veteran Steven Rasa, quiet offensively, stepped up defensively and foiled McDonald’s’ attempt to send the game into overtime.

Joeten was holding on to that slim 3-point lead after McLean Achas completed a 3-point play off a foul by Juanito Sambile with 22.7 ticks left in the game.

In Joeten’s next offensive play, Sherwin Gaspar read perfectly Michael Arciaga’s pass that was intended for Lauron and quickly ran toward McDonald’s’ frontcourt. He issued a pass to Gil Gapor, who fired from 3-point range but the ball missed its mark.

A mad scramble for the loose ball followed and the ball went out of bounds with a Joeten player last touching it that allowed McDonald’s to keep possession with 7.3 seconds left, giving them a chance to force overtime.

Rasa then managed to get a hold of Michael Achas’ inbound pass to Richard Cruz at the baseline. He was already losing his balance and with quick thinking, let the ball bounce to Cruz to go out of bounds and give possession back to Joeten less than five seconds left in the game.

Arciaga, after receiving the inbound pass, just dribbled the ball as the buzzer sounded.

McDonald’s even led by 5 points, 26-21, with 2:01 left in the second period but Joeten went on a closing 7-0 spurt to enjoy a slim 28-26 halftime edge.

McDonald’s kept the game close and always managed to come back when Joeten was about to pull away. Joeten, however, showed endgame poise.

Alex Lauron paced Joeten with 14 points followed closely by Arciaga’s 13 markers. Juanito Sambile and Sidney Quan scored 9 and 8, respectively while Rasa and Ferdie Tobias had a quiet 6 each.

Michael Achas and McLane Achas tallied 16 and 15 points apiece for McDonald’s.

Earlier, Marianas Brokers Inc./KFC banked on Angelo Fernando and Ivan De Vero’s game-long brilliance in pulling off an 86-78 win over Commonwealth Utilities Corp.

Fernando scattered 27 points to lead three other MBI players that turned in double digits. De Vero finished with 20 markers, while White Capalad and Perry Inos made 15 apiece.

Eugene Manglona and John Santos scored more than half of CUC’s points. They combined for 46 while Simada Iramk had a quiet 11 points.

Action continues tonight with MBI/KFC taking on Docomo in the 6:30pm first game, while opening-day winners Mariana Resort and Tan Holdings clash in the 8pm match.

On Monday night, Tan Holdings battle Cape Air at 6:30pm while Saipan Ice takes on CUC at 8pm.

First Game
MBI/KFC 86 – Fernando 27, De Vero 20, Capalad 15, Inos 15, Trajano 6, Sitchon 3.

CUC 78 – Manglona 25, Santos 21, Iramk 11, Nunez 8, Madracheluib 5, Benavente 4, Camacho 2, Masga 2.

Scoring by quarters: 27-16, 43-37, 62-57, 86-78.

Second Game
Joeten 59 – Lauron 14, Arciaga 13, Sambile 9, Quan 8, Rasa 6, Tobias 6, Villegas 3.

McDonald’s 56 – Mi. Achas 16, Mc. Achas 15, Gaspar 7, Gapor 6, Jo. Achas 4, Ayuyu 4, Ch. Achas 2, Cruz 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-16, 26-28, 42-40, 59-56.