Joeten, Coca-Cola/Subway roll to third win

Coca-Cola/Subway’s Elis Ilo, left, and Jojo Felix trap Konstrak Builders’ Ronilo Sabidal during the third quarter of their game in the JEM/Mobil caging last Thursday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Coca-Cola/Subway took the Pool B lead, while Joeten remained in the upper half of the Pool A standings as the two teams cruised to their third win in the 2017 JEM Company Ltd./Mobil Customer Appreciation Basketball League last Thursday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Coca-Cola/Subway improved its record to a division best 3-1 following a 77-59 victory against Konstrak Builders in the second game, while Joeten earned the same mark after a similar easy win over Triple J in the curtain-raiser, 88-70.

Joeten leaned on its balance offense to stretch its streak to three after dropping its opening game (versus CUC) in the 16-team league. Sid Quan led five Joeten players who scored in twin digits with his 18 points. Ivan Devero and Alex Lauron chipped in 15 each, while Keoni Chariton and Raymond Bautista contributed 13 apiece.

Joeten took control of the match right from the get-go with Devero anchoring the team’s good start after drilling 10 markers in the first quarter. Devero was then held to 2 points in the second canto, but Joeten had no problems with that as Lauron and Bautista teamed up to fill the gap and turn a 14-23 lead to a 43-27 advantage at the break. Lauron and Bautista combined for 15 of Joeten’s 20 points in the second canto.

Bautista was still on target at the start of the second half and got help from Chariton and Quan as Joeten widened the gap anew en route to the 18-point winning margin.

Perry Inos had 21 on a losing effort for Triple J, which is still winless in three games.

In the second match, Michael Cabanas had another explosive game after firing 39 markers. The Coca-Cola/Subway gunner hit shots from everywhere for a fitting follow-up on his 34-point production in their 74-39 rout of erstwhile leader Westco last Jan. 20.

Despite Cabanas’ hot shooting, Konstrak put up a good fight against Coca-Cola/Subway and even took the lead temporarily in the second quarter before collapsing in the fourth. Konstrak behind the 25 points of Ronilo Sabidal was down by only 5 at the end of the third, 53-58, but fell behind by double digits in the final canto when it was held to two field goals. Sabidal made no field goal in the payoff period and canned only two free throws.

Cabanas won his shootout against Sabidal after delivering the killer blows for Coca-Cola/Subway with his 11 markers in the final fame.

First Game
Joeten 88 – Quan 18, Devero 15, Lauron 15, Chariton 13, Bautista 13, Tobias 5, Rogolifoi 3, Sambile 2, Rio 2, Muna 2.

Triple J 70 – Inos 21, Oris 19, Jarabe 10, Geli 6, Palacios 4, Gamboa 4, Obnimaga 3, Gandez 3.

Scoring by quarters: 23-14, 43-27, 67-45, 88-70.

Second Game
Coca-Cola/Subway 77 – Cabanas 39, Armia 13, Francisco 9, Felix 9, Ilo 3, Estoque 2, Fejeran 2.

Konstrak 59 – Sabidal 27, Bernardo 14, Poblete 8, Manalo 6, Espejo 4, Alfonso 1.

Scoring by quarters: 27-22, 36-37, 58-53, 77-59.