Tigers slip past Titans in Tinian Dynasty caging

Defending champion Food and Beverage Service Tigers slipped past Casino Titans, 73-72, in the 7th Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino Inter-Departmental Basketball League on Sunday at the TDHC staff house court.

It was the fourth straight win for the Tigers in as many games while it was the first loss for the Titans after winning their first two games.

The game was also a long-awaited match up between two of the hottest teams in the league in what many observers are saying might be a finals preview. The top honchos of both departments joined their employees in watching the thrilling match.

F&B Service hung on to a four-point in the final two minutes of the game with Charlie Fernandez and Noel Sabordo keeping their team afloat with their timely baskets putting pressure on the Titans.

Titans’ prized-find 6’3” rookie Ringo Reyes and 6’2” Ronan Awa powered their way inside the paint to keep Casino within striking distance with the Tigers.

But Casino lost Awa and Reyes in the final 60 seconds of the match that ended their upset bid. Awa had to leave the game after being accidentally hit in the eyebrow during a rebound battle, while Reyes was whistled with his sixth foul after giving an illegal screen.

Veteran Elias Camero stepped up big time for the Titans hitting back-to-back 3-pointers after two missed attempts by the Tigers to momentarily grab the lead, 71-69.

Sabordo tied the game at 71-all while Fernandez grabbed the loose ball after a Titans miss and was fouled in the play. Fernandez made both free throws for a 73-71 lead.

Casino went on fastbreak mode at the other end with Camero being fouled with two seconds left in the clock. Camero, feeling the pressure of the match, split his charities and the Tigers grabbed the rebound as time expired to escape with the win.

It was a battle of spurts in the first half with Casino enjoying an early 10-point lead but the Tigers, with the Titans Reyes and Earl Manguera riding the bench due to foul trouble, bounced back and built a double-digit advantage in the second quarter for a 44-34 halftime lead.

The Titans battled back in the third period to set up the thrilling finale.

In the second game, Dennis Espiritu led four other players who finished in double figures as the Bert Gapasin-coached Finance/Shipping coasted to a 99-70 win over FO/Housekeeping.

Espiritu paced Finance/Shipping with 20 points, while Louie Malimban and Max Piol added 18 and 16 more. Two other players finished with 16 markers.

FO/Housekeeping’s Gabby Cajayon and Joel Miranda became spectators in the one-sided contest as they could not do anything to trim Finance/Shipping’s big lead.

One game was held on Saturday with the F&B Chefs trouncing Security Department, 85-67. On Thursday, May 8, the Tigers pulled off an 85-81 win over the Chefs, while the Titans waltzed to a 99-63 triumph against FO/Housekeeping.

F&B Service Tigers 73 – Sabordo 35, Fernandez 30, Flores 3, Pavino 3, Gilber 2.

Casino Titans 72 – Camero 20, Reyes 17, Ramirez 12, Advincula 7, Awa 7 ,Manguera 4, Gurung 2, Que 2, Sablan 1.

Scoring by quarters: 21-23, 44-34, 54-53, 73-72.

Referees: Don Sarmiento, Romy Libut, and MarioMorilla.