Two in a row for CUC, TanHoldings

Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s John Santos, left, reaches in to tap the ball away from Triple J’s Michael Mamaril during the third quarter of their game in the JEM/Mobil caging last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and TanHoldings booked their second win in the 2017 JEM Company Ltd./Mobil Customer Appreciation Basketball League after topping their respective opponents last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

TanHoldings, which came from a 118-63 rout of GPPC during the league’s opening match, picked up where it left off with another lopsided victory against Best Deal/RNV Construction, 101-72. With its 2-0 mark, TanHoldings now share the Pool A lead with CUC, which downed Triple J, 76-66, in last weekend’s second tiff.

CUC withstood Triple J’s rally in the end to remain unbeaten and join TanHoldings on top of the team standings in their group. CUC once led by double digits, 55-44, early in the fourth, but saw its advantage trimmed down to 4, 66-70, after Triple J forward Perry Inos completed a 3-point play.

Fortunately, CUC kept the lead and the win after holding Triple J scoreless in the last 2:33 of the match. Five straight points from Robert Lieto brought order back to CUC and Iramk Simada capped the winning team’s strong finish with a triple for the twin-digit margin.

Eugene Manglona top-scored for CUC with his 28 points, while John Santos and Lieto chipped in 15 and 12, respectively. Michael Mamaril paced the winless Triple J (0-2) with his 23 markers, while Inos contributed 17.

In the first game, TanHoldings’ offensive firepower proved too be too much for Best Deal/RNV.

TanHoldings sizzled for 35 points right from the get-go to double up RNV after the first quarter, 35-17. With Douglas Schmidt and Ernest and Matt Duenas on fire as usual coupled with Jarett Matsutaro’s good shooting, TanHoldings never relinquished the big lead in the last three periods to hand Best Deal/RNV (0-2) a beating.

Schmidt registered 26 points, while Matt tallied 22, and Matsutaro and Ernest added 18 and 14, respectively. Andy Mortos, who had 30 points in their 65-80 loss to McDonald’s last week, again led Best Deal/RNV after recording 28 markers.

First Game
TanHoldings 101 – Schmidt 26, M. Duenas 22, Matsutaro 18, E. Duenas 14, Demapan 7, VIllamena 4, Macoto 4, Pablo 4, Quizon 2.

Best Deal/RNV 72 – Mortos 28, Rueda 16, Corong 9, Baul 8, Jumaquio 6, Alfonso 2, Cayanan 2, Odicta 1.

Scoring by quarters: 35-17, 53-29, 78-48, 101-72.

Second Game
CUC 76 – Manglona 27, Santos 15, Lieto 12, Spaeth 7, Mira 6, Pestillos 6, Simada 3.

Triple J 66 – Mamaril 23, Inos 17, Palacios 8, Medina 6, Oris 6, Ololapi 4, Jarabe 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-13, 33-28, 53-44, 76-66.