TDI rallies for fifth win; Mariana Resort still clean

Top Development, Inc.’s Krisgel Arreza, left, is fouled by D&Q/CTSI’s Ramsa Tenepere during the closing seconds of their game in the JEM/Mobil caging last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Top Development, Inc. and Mariana Resort kept the Top 2 spots in the team standings in Pool B of the JEM Company Ltd./Mobil Customer Appreciation Basketball League following their contrasting wins last Friday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Marianas Resort crushed Konstrak Builders in the curtain-raiser, 121-50, while TDI pulled off a come-from-behind 88-81 victory over D&W/CTSI in the nightcap. Mariana Resort is now 5-0 to stay on top of the eight-team Pool B and two wins away from sweeping the regular season. TDI is done in the pool play as it finished with a 5-2 record (second best so far in the division) and it is likely to join Mariana Resort at the top half of the draw, going into the playoffs. The Top 4 finishers in the regular season will face the bottom four finishers in Pool B in the single-elimination playoff round.

TDI ended the regular season with a win after going all out in the fourth quarter, while D&Q/CTSI had another meltdown despite leading at the end of each of the first three periods.

TDI scored 32 points in the fourth canto against D&Q/CTSI’s 21 markers to steal the victory. Raymond Velasco again top-scored for TDI with his 44 points, including 12 in the payoff frame, while Krigel Arreza and Allen Reyes delivered baskets in the homestretch to complete the come-from-behind win.

Reyes’ pair of charities broke the last deadlock, 83-81, while D&Q/CTSI bungled its chances to stay in the game with more than a minute left after taking hurried shots and committing an error in the inbound play.

Shawn Fujihara pulled up for a long jumper after Reyes’ free throws and missed, while TDI grabbed the rebound and Arreza went for the finish with a fastbreak layup, 85-81. Another early shot from Ariel Jinang in the ensuing play returned possession to TDI and Arreza hit a split after D&Q/CTSI was called for a foul. Now down by 5, 81-86, with 20.1 seconds left, D&Q/CTSI needed a quick basket to remain in contention, however, Ramsa Tenepere’s inbound pass to Jinang was intercepted. Tenepere later gave up a preemptive foul on Arreza, who this time made both charities to peg the final score.

Meanwhile, in the first game, Mariana Resort had a jackrabbit start, taking a 32-11 lead against Konstrak Builders en route to another lopsided victory.

Mel Sakisat Jr. sizzled for 32 points for the unbeaten Mariana Resort, while his five other teammates also scored in twin digits as their squad more than doubled the output of the entire Konstrak Builders crew. Carlo Prado chipped in 21, Sandrew Kani tallied 16, Jun Fidelino made 14, and Euly James Ermitanio and Prince Factor contributed 13 and 10, respectively.

Ramon Alfonso logged 19 to pace Konstrak Builders, which is still winless in five games.

First Game

Marianas Resort 121 – Sakisat 32, Prado 21, Kani 16, Fidelino 14, Ermitanio 13, Factor 10, F. Lifoifoi 9, Kapileo 6, Asedillo 4.

Konstrak Builders 50 – Alfonso 19, Bernardo 17, Ronilo Sabidal 12, Lencin 2.

Scoring by quarters: 32-11, 60-24, 91-39, 121-50

Second Game

TDI 88 – Velasco 44, Allen Reyes 24, K. Arreza 8, Reyes 8, Barros 4, Lumayag 2.

D&Q/CTSI 81 – Rivera 17, Jinang 16, Tenepere 11, De La Torre 9, Echavez 8, Santos 6, Fujihira 4, Raho 4, Benavente 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-22, 36-41, 56-60, 88-81.