Finals sweep for Joeten 1

Joeten 1’s Juanito Sambile, right, takes off for a layup against Top Development, Inc.’s Nestor Arreza during Game 2 of their title series in the 2018 JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League last Sunday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Kimberly A. Bautista)

Joeten 1 clinched the championship in the 2018 JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League following a 75-66 victory in Game 2 of their finals series against Top Development Inc. last Sunday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

After cruising to an 85-66 win in Game 2, Joeten 1 was engaged by TDI in a close duel in Game 2, but still prevailed to sweep the short best-of-three title series. Joeten 1 gained some cushion in the second quarter and then hung tough in the fourth to finish off TDI.

The second period ended with Joeten 1 ahead, 38-32. Patrick Rotap delivered two triples, while Chris Lilles made one from downtown, turning the first-quarter deadlock (16-all) to a 6-point advantage at the break. Five other Joeten 1 players scored in the second period, as the eventual champion picked up where it left off in the finals opener, playing team basketball to outclass TDI.

TDI, when the game resumed, managed to grab the lead from Joeten 1 twice, 49-47, after back-to-back baskets from Darwin Barbo, and at the 51-49 tally following Raymond Velasco’s deuce.

However, a triple from Ernest Duenas allowed Joeten 1 to regain the driver’s seat, 52-51, and the team still had the upper hand at the end of the third, 58-53, after drawing one basket apiece from Tom Augustin, Alex Lauron, and Sydney Quan.

Then in the fourth period, Vince Teregeyo and Quan combined for Joeten 1’s first 8 points, while Lauron finished what his two teammates started, making 6 of their last 8 markers to seal the deal.

While Joeten 1 continued to have a balanced offense in the fourth canto, TDI had the opposite. Only Velasco scored more than two baskets in the final frame, while Barbo and Sean Rabasto were held to one field goal apiece and TDI had their lowest output in a quarter (11 points).

With the title in the bag in the last 30 seconds of Game 2, Joeten 1 left the ball on the floor and its players started shaking hands with their opponents as a gesture of good sportsmanship.

Lauron top-scored in Joeten 1’s title-clinching win after firing 17 points, while Lilles chipped in 14, and Quan, Teregeyo, and K.J. Kabiriel added 10 each. Velasco had 17 for TDI, while Barbo and Rabasto finished with 16 and 14, respectively.

Joeten 1 75—Lauron 17, Lilles 14, Quan 10, Karibiel 10, Teregeyo 10, Rotap 6, Duenas 5, Agustin 2, Sambile 1.

Top Development Inc. 66—Velasco 17, Barbo 16, Rabasto 14, Reyes 13, Pollisco 2, Arezza 2, Sefich 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-16, 38-32, 58-53, 75-66.

Joeten 1 players pose with their trophies and are joined in the group photo by organizers of the 2018 JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League last Sunday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Kimberly A. Bautista)