Debut wins for Tan Holdings, Mariana Resort

Tan Holdings and Mariana Resort & Spa opened up with respective wins in contrasting fashion at the start of the 2015 JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League last Saturday at the TSL Sports Complex.

Ferdie Tobias of Joeten Enterprises, right, tries to keep the ball away from Tan Holdings’ Jared Matsutaro in last Saturday’s opening of the 2015 JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League at the TSL Sports Complex in Gualo Rai. (Jon Perez)

Tan Holdings survived Joeten Enterprises’ repeated comeback bids then used a third-quarter scoring barrage in coasting to an 80-60 win, while Mariana Resort blitzed past McDonald’s, 89-49.

Cape Air, Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Docomo Pacific, Marianas Brokers Inc., Saipan Ice, and Top Development Inc. are the other competing teams in the second edition of the cage league.

Joeten, despite falling behind by double digits early in the game, managed to claw back several times and was only down by 6 points, 40-34, with 8:34 left in the third quarter.

Tan Holdings, however, always had an answer for every Joeten basket and used a 17-9 exchange to enjoy a 57-43 spread with 2:51 to go in the third.

Tan Holdings closed out with another 9-5 spurt to enter the fourth canto holding on to an 18-point lead, which they protected up to the final buzzer.

Matt Duenas, Lerio Pagarao, and Elmer Esdrelon joined hands for Tan Holdings in keeping Joeten at bay.

Duenas had a game high 23 points, while Pagarao and Esdrelon finished with 16 and 14 markers each. R. J. Nonato had a quiet 10 points.

Mike Arciaga scattered 12 points to lead Joeten’s scoring while Dixon Kwon and veteran Steve Rasa chipped in 10 apiece.

Earlier, Mariana Resort had Team McDonald’s scoreless for almost seven minutes en route to their 40-point win.

Francisco Lifoifoi and Fred Litulumar alternated in piling up the points for Mariana Resort, which held on to a 19-0 advantage in the 3:33 mark of the first period. Richard Cruz ended the scoring drought for Team McDonald’s with a 3-pointer, 3:14 in the same quarter.

Edmark Mendoza, however, joined in the scoring fray as Mariana Resort pressed on with their offensive attack and McDonald’s missed horribly from the field.

Mendoza top-scored for Mariana Resort with 23, followed closely by Lifoifoi’s 22. Litulumar ended up with 18 markers.

Cruz tallied 17 for Team McDonald’s, while Michael Achas scattered 13 points.

Action continues today with Cape Air taking on Saipan Ice at 6:30pm, while Docomo battles Top Development in the 8pm second game. Both games will be played at the TSL Sports Complex.

First Game
Mariana Resort 89 – Mendoza 23, Lifoifoi 22, Litulumar 18, Bansil 7, Delos Reyes 6, Johannes 5, Capuli 4, Lacbayo 4.

McDonald’s 49 – Cruz 17, Mi. Achas 13, Gapor 8, C. Achas 4, Ayuyu 4, Gaspar 3.

Scoring by quarters: 26-10, 43-19, 68-36, 89-49.

Second Game
Tan Holdings 88 – Duenas 23, Pagarao 16, Esdrelon 14, Nonato 10, Demapan 7, Matsutaro 6, Macoto 4.

Joeten 60 – Arciaga 12, Kwon 10, Rasa 10, Lauron 8, Lampkin 7, Benghit 5, Sambile 5, Tobias 3.

Scoring by quarters: 23-10, 38-27, 66-48, 80-60.