Mariana Resort, TanHoldings near sweep

TanHoldings’ Elmer Esdrelon has nowhere to go against the defense of CUC’s Robert Lieto, right, and Giovanni Mira during the second quarter of their game in the JEM/Mobil caging last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Mariana Resort and TanHoldings moved a win away from sweeping the regular season of the JEM Company Ltd./Mobil Customer Appreciation Basketball League after defeating their respective opponents last week at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Mariana Resort eased past Star Water last Thursday, 90-62, to improve to a 6-0 record and keep the top spot in seven-team Pool B. The group leader will go for the sweep on March 3 when it takes on Westco.

In Pool A, TanHoldings also holds a 6-0 card following an 80-74 triumph over Commonwealth Utilities. Corp. (3-3) last Friday.

TanHoldings led early to gain enough cushion against CUC’s rally in the fourth quarter. The Pool A leader went up by a baker’s dozen in the opening canto, thanks to Douglas Schmidt’s 10 points in the first quarter. Schmidt added 5 more markers in the second period and was backed up buy R.J. Nonato and Lerio Pagarao as TanHoldings widened the gap at the break, 42-28.

TanHoldings then established its biggest advantage in the third, 65-47, with Bart Demapan and Elmer Esdrelon stepping up at the start of the second half, combining for 15 of their 24 markers.

The 18-point lead going into the fourth canto allowed TanHoldings to withstand CUC’s comeback bid. CUC trimmed the deficit down to single digits behind the successive baskets of Eugene Manglona, but fell short in the end.

Manglona led all scorers with his 42 points, but only him and John Santos tallied double figures for CUC with the latter adding 11. TanHoldings had four players registering twin digits with Schmidt recording 21, Pagarao chipping in 19, and Esdrelon and Demapan contributing 15 and 10, respectively, to make up for the absence of Matt and Ernest Duenas.

In last Thursday’s tiff, Mariana Resort broke away in the third quarter after exploding for 33 points.

Before the juggernaut, Mariana Resort was just ahead by 3 at halftime, 35-32. The Pool B leader nearly matched in the penultimate quarter its total output in the first half to enjoy a 68-43 advantage, going into the fourth canto.

Mel Sakisat paced Mariana Resort with his 24 points, 12 of them came in the pivotal third period. Sandrew Kania added 16, while Jun Fidelino, Prince Factor, and J.R. Lifoifoi also scored in double figures with 16, 15, and 10, respectively.

Thursday Game
Marianas Resort 90 – Sakisat 24, Kani 17, Fidelino 16, Factor 15, J. Lifoifoi 10, Prado 6, Lifoifoi 5.

Star Water 62 – Gallardo 28, Dizon 14, Brel 7, Santos 4, Quiban 3, Gille 2, Ombac 2, Rojas 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-16, 35-32, 68-43, 90-62.

Friday Game
TanHoldings 80 – Schmidt 21, Pagarao 19, Esdrelon 15, Demapan 10, Nonato 8, Pablo 3, Macoto 2.

CUC 74 – Manglona 42, Santos 11, Spaeth 9,Mira 6, Simada 3, Pestillos 2, Lieto 2.

Scoring by quarters: 27-14, 42-28, 65-47, 80-74.