MBI/KFC, Tan Holdings still unbeaten

MBI/KFC’s Perry Inos goes for a reverse layup against McDonald’s’ Richard Cruz, left, and Vicente Manibusan during the fourth quarter of their game in the JP caging last Wednesday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Micronesian Brokers, Inc./Kentucky Fried Chicken and Tan Holdings kept their undefeated records as they downed separate foes at the resumption of the 2nd JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League this week at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

MBI/KFC crushed McDonald’s, 89-64, in the first game last Wednesday for a perfect 3-0 record, the same mark that Tan Holdings posted last Monday following an 80-59 demolition of Docomo.

MBI/KFC established a twin-digit lead right in the first quarter, 28-17, to ease past McDonald’s, which is still winless in three games. Justin Zapanta gave MBI/KFC a good start, knocking in all his 10 points in the opening frame, while White Capalad and Ivan Devero backed him up, chipping in 7 each.

In the second quarter, McDonald’s managed to bring the lead down to 9, 34-43, behind the 7 straight points of Richard Cruz, but MBI/KFC widened the gap anew in the third, 62-49, with three of its players making at least two baskets apiece. MBI/KFC was never threatened from thereon to hand McDonald’s its third loss.

In the curtain-raiser last Monday, Tan Holdings drew solid games from young guns Paul Quizon and Jared Matsutaro to whip Docomo.

Quizon sizzled for 25 points, while Matsutaro added 20. Gerald Rivera and R.J. Nonato were the other double-figure scorers for Tan Holdings, contributing 14 and 10, respectively.

Quizon nailed Tan Holdings’ first 7 points to power his squad to a 21-10 lead at the end of opening quarter. He added 11 more in the second to keep Tan Holdings’ 11-point advantage at the break, 42-31.

Matsutaro then picked up where Quizon left off, firing 16 points in the second half, including Tan Holdings’ first 10 points in the final canto to complete their rout of Docomo.

Meanwhile, Joeten got its second win in three games after a similar lopsided win against Saipan Ice, 75-53.

Joeten held Saipan Ice to single-digit scoring in the first and second quarters to bag the easy win. Saipan Ice scored only 9 points in the first canto to fall behind, 9-13, and was limited to 8 in the second, allowing Joeten to take a 31-17 halftime advantage. Alex Lauron led Joeten’s strong showing in the first half, recording 12 of his game-high 19 markers in the opening 20 minutes of play.

Saipan Ice never made headway in the second half to absorb its first loss in two games, while it played its third match this season last Wednesday night, but results of its duel against Top Development, Inc. is unavailable at press time.

Action in the JP caging resumed just last Monday as the league was forced to suspend matches in the aftermath of Typhoon Soudelor.

MONDAY
First Game
Tan Holdings 80 – Quizon 25, Matsutaro 20, Rivera 14, Nonato 10, Esdrelon 5, Macoto 4.

Docomo 59 – Sanciangco 20, White 14, McCale 4, Hayes 4, Mendiola 3.

Scoring by quarters: 21-10, 42-31, 59-37, 80-59.

Second Game
Joeten 75 – Lauron 19, Kwon 14, Tobias 11, Sambile 9, Sague 6, Quan 6, Benghit 4, Villegas 2.

Saipan Ice 53 – Santy 14, Kaipat 11, Rangamar 10, William 10, Fernandez 4, Welson 4.

Scoring by quarters: 13-9, 31-17, 59-36, 75-53.

WEDNESDAY
MBI/KFC 89 – Fernando 23, Capalad 20, Devero 19, Zapanta 10, Inos 8, Sitchon 6, Omampo 2.

McDonald’s 64 – J. Achas 12, Cruz 11, M. Achas 8, Palacios 8, Gaspar 7, Manibusan 4, Rigua 3, Ayuyu 2.

Scoring by quarters: 28-17, 43-34, 62-49, 89-64.