Contrasting wins for McDonald’s, CUC

McDonald’s’ McClain Achas is left open for a point-blank shot during their debut game against Best Deal/RNV in the JP World caging last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. McDonald’s won, 111-91, and made it two in a row after an 81-76 triumph over Joeten 2 last Tuesday. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

McDonald’s edged Joeten 2, 81-76, while Commonwealth Utilities Corp. coasted past M&R Contractor, 93-65, in the 2018 JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League last Tuesday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

McDonald’s scored 20-plus points in the first three quarters to offset its fourth-period slowdown and take a 5-point winning margin over Joeten 2. McDonald’s now has a 2-0 record to share first place with TanHoldings in Pool A, while Joeten 2 fell to a 1-1 mark.

Jaymark De Guzman had another 30-plus output for McDonald’s, making 31. He had 39 in their 111-91 debut win over Best Deal/RNV last weekend. The former Saipan Southern High School standout dropped 12 markers in the first quarter where McDonald’s scored 25 points. He also recorded 12 points in the third period for another 25-marker production for McDonald’s and adding the team’s 20 in the second canto, De Guzman and company entered the fourth with a 71-57 lead.

The 14-point advantage in the final canto gave McDonald’s enough cushion despite being held to 10 in the payoff period.

Joeten 2 outgunned McDonald’s in the fourth frame after firing 19 points, but the former paid the price for its flat first half where it was limited to 31 points—18 in the first and 13 in the second.

Meanwhile, CUC was all business in all four quarters of its match against M&R for the easy victory.

CUC had 20-plus points in each of the four periods and blew the game wide open in the third with a 24-8 scoring surge, turning a 44-33 halftime edge to a 68-41 spread. Despite the big lead, CUC remained consistent on offense to complete its domination of M&R. CUC notched its first victory in two games, while M&R is still winless after two matches.

Eugene Manglona top-scored for CUC with his 28 points, while Mike Surima had 31 on a losing effort for M&R.

First Game
CUC 93 — Manglona 28, Santos 17, Nunez 12, Spaeth 9, Taisacan 7, Nekaifes 5, Pestillos 5, Lieto 2, Darag 2.
M&R Construction 65 — Surima 31, Noel 15, Manuel 7, Buniag 6, Solivo 3, Del Rosario 3.
Scoring by quarters: 22-15, 44-33, 68-41, 93-65.

Second Game
McDonald’s 81 — De Guzman 31, J. Achas 11, Mi. Achas 10, Macaranas 9, Mc. Achas 7. Misaro 6, Fidelino 5.
Joeten 2 76 — Cruz 19, Agulto 16, Pua 12, William 8, Montoya 8, Camacho 8, Tabora 6.
Scoring by quarters: 25-18, 46-31, 71-57, 81-76.