Contrasting wins for PIC, Joeten

Pacific Islands Club and Joeten Enterprises defeated their respective foes in contrasting fashion in the Inter-Commercial Business Basketball League 2015 last Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Mobil/JP World’s Manolo Manalo tries to go to the baseline while teammate Wenz Espinosa provides the screen in their game in the Inter Commercial Business Basketball League on Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Jon Perez)

PIC squeezed out a thrilling 72-69 decision over Public School System, while Joeten used a third-quarter scoring spree in cruising to a 90-68 thrashing of Mobil/JP World.

The reigning Inter-Hotel champions had to sweat it out against PSS and trailed for most part of the match before erupting in the final period to secure its fourth-straight win.

Darwin Barbo scored 8 of his total 12 points in the fourth quarter to help PIC overhaul a 57-48 third-quarter lead.

PSS, behind Preston Basa’s outside shooting, led for three quarters but could not find the finishing kick that could have dealt PIC its first loss in the tournament.

Basa fired seven of PSS’ 10 3-pointers to finish with a game-high 32 points, but five of his teammates only managed to score in the game with Jerry Diaz and Maverick Itibus adding 9 markers each, while Melvin Manibusan and Christopher Tenorio turned in 8 apiece. Joe Villacrusis had 3 points.

Sam Kossow led PIC’s balanced scoring with 14 points to go with his 14 rebounds, and 2 steals, while Bart Demapan finished with an all-around game of 13 markers, 9 boards, 3 assists, and 2 steals.

In the second game, Joeten outscored Mobil in the third period to pull away from a tight first half and breeze through victory.

Alex Lauron made 10 of Joeten’s 20 points in the third period to help his team enjoy a 63-47 spread entering the final 10 minutes of the match.

Lauron finished with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block, while Dixon Kwon backed him up with 18 markers, 8 boards, 2 feeds, and 3 steals. Rocyl Ritual and Ferdie Tobias scored 13 and 12 each.

Syl Teregeyo only finished with 4 points but grabbed 11 rebounds, issued 3 assists, and had 4 steals also for Joeten.

Mike Arciaga paced Mobil’s losing cause with 17 points while Mike Espinosa, Jun Estolas, and Wenz Espinosa added 12, 11, and 10 markers, respectively.

Action continues today with Fiesta Resort & Spa taking on Docomo Pacific in the 6:30pm first game, while Marpac battles Saipan Stevedore in the second match at 8pm.

First Game
PIC 72 – Kossow 14, Demapan 13, Barbo 12, Dela Rosa 9, Hambros 9, Abuy 5, Rabasto 4, Castro 2.

PSS 69 – Basa 32, Diaz 9, itibus 9, Manibusan 8, Tenorio 8, Villacrusis 3.

Scoring by quarters: 13-14, 29-34, 48-57, 72-69.

Second Game
Joeten 90 – Lauron 22, Kwon 18, Ritual 13, Tobias 12, Sambile 6, Nakayama 5, Borja 4, Teregeyo 4, Alfonso 2, Benghit 2, Rankin 2.

Mobil 68 – Arciaga 17, M. Espinosa 12, Estolas 11, W. Espinosa 10, Manalo 6, Factor 4, Dikito 2, Jose 2, Pantaleon 2, Rivera 2.

Scoring by quarters: 13-17, 43-37, 63-47, 90-68.