Docomo, Mariana Resort rout foes; Westco wins

Westco’s Abel Landicho pulls up for an open jumper as Konstract Builders players are late on defense during the third quarter of their game in the JEM/Mobil caging last Sunday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Mariana Resort, Docomo, and Westco won their debuts in the 2017 JEM Company Ltd./Mobil Customer Appreciation Basketball League last Sunday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Mariana Resort whipped Coca-Cola Subway, 90-44, while Docomo had a similar easy victory against Triple J, 74-58. Westco completed the list of opening day winners following a 61-52 triumph over Konstract Builders.

Bannered by young players, Mariana Resort broke the game wide open in the third quarter for a rousing start in Pool B of the 16-team league. Young guns Francisco Lifoifoi, Joe Lifoifoi, Jun Fidelino, and Prince Factor combined for 21 of Mariana Resort’s 25 points in the third quarter, turning a 32-24 halftime edge to a 57-38 lead.

Melvin Sakisat, a former Kagman High School standout, then finished what his teammates started, scoring 8 straight points in the fourth canto to help Mariana Resort pull away further. Jeff Gechig, who had only 4 markers after three quarters, also stepped up in the fourth, tallying 8.

Sakisat went on to top-score for Mariana Resort with his 17 points, while five of his teammates also hit double figures. Only one Coca-Cola/Subway player broke into twin digits with Edward Armia making 12 markers.

In the Docomo-Triple J tiff in Pool A, the former drew good offensive games from Jason Hayes, Mel Manibusan, and Robert Sanciangco to east past the latter.

Hayes had a team-high 22 points, while Manibusan and Sanciangco chipped in 16 and 13, respectively.

Hayes was on target early, knocking 8 points in the first quarter to give Docomo a 20-11 advantage. Hayes continued hitting his mark in the last three periods and drew help from Manibusan and Sanciangco to power Docomo to a 16-point winning margin.

In the last game on opening day, Westco withstood Konstract Builders’ third-quarter rally and played steady in the fourth to win its debut in Pool B.

After trailing in the majority of the first half, Konstract Builders managed to grab the upper hand from Westco, 37-36, after a completed 3-point play from Adnilo Sambidal midway in the third period. However, Westco, which was scoreless in the first five minutes and change of the penultimate quarter, regrouped and regained the driver’s seat at the end of that canto, 46-39. Westco then kept its safe distance to foil Konstract Builders’ repeated comeback bids in the final frame.

Second Game
Mariana Resort 90 – Sakisat 17, F. Lifoifoi 12, Gechig 12, J. Lifoifoi 11, Fidelino 10, Factor 9, , Abobo 6, Philips 6, Prado 5, Ermitanio 4.

Coca-Cola/Subway 44 – Armia 12, Oagasawara 8, Fejeran 7, Felix 6, Francisco 6, Ilo 5.

Scoring by quarters: 13-11, 32-24, 57-38, 90-44.

Third Game
Docomo 74 – Hayes 22, Manibusan 16, Sanciangco 13, Sablan 9, Griffin 6, Kaipat 4, Mendiola 1.

Triple J 58 – Olopai 23, Oris 19, Mamaril 6, Geli 6, Patron 2, Jarabe 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-11, 36-25, 59-40, 74-58.

Fourth Game
Westco 61 – Illaji 18, Rejano 15, Landicho 9, Tolentino 8, Cortez 6, Gutierrez 5.

Konstract Builders 52 – Bernardo 16, Sabidal 14, Manalo 9, Poblete 9, Ayson 2, Lansang 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-10, 36-28, 46-39, 61-52.