Mariana Resort on top of Pool B

Mariana Resort’s Prince Factor gets away with a fastbreak layup during the fourth quarter of their game against Mobil/COAG in the JEM/Mobil caging last Tuesday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Back-to-back wins in less than a week put Mariana Resort in the division lead in the JEM Company Ltd./Mobil Customer Appreciation Basketball League.

Mariana Resort defeated Top Development, Inc., 89-80, last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium and then hammered Mobil/COAG last Tuesday, 127-48, to remain unbeaten in three games and take the Pool B lead in the 16-team league.

Joe Lifoifoi Jr. led Mariana Resort’s crushing of the hapless Mobil/COAG after firing 31 points. He also drew ample support from three of his teammates with Melvin Sakisat Jr. chipping in 25 markers and Frank Lifoifoi and Prince Factor contributing 25 and 20, respectively. E.J. Ermitanio was the fifth Mariana Resort player to break into twin digits in their 79-point win against Mobil/COAG after adding 10.

Mariana Resort peppered Mobil/COAG with triples and nearly matched the latter’s total output just in the third quarter alone, as the division-leading team exploded for 43 points in the penultimate frame to take an insurmountable 89-35 advantage.

Despite the huge lead, Mariana Resort showed no mercy to Mobil/COAG, logging 38 more points in the fourth quarter en route to the biggest winning margin so far in the league.

In their earlier win, Sakisat stood the tallest among his teammates after recording 32 points. He consistently made multiple baskets in all four quarters to help Mariana Resort snap TDI’s two-game losing skid.

Mariana Resort gained cushion in the third canto behind Sakisat’s 7 markers, as the team turned a 42-37 halftime lead to a 66-54 advantage, going into the fourth period. Mariana Resort then kept its safe distance as it waxed hot from downtown, drilling four triples.

Raymond Velasco had a game-high 41 points in a losing effort for TDI, which played without Jerome Reyes. Allen Reyes chipped in 24 markers for TDI, which fell to an even 2-2 record.

Friday Game
Marianas Resort 89 – Sakisat 31, Fidelino 18, Factor 12, F. Lifoifoi 8, Kani 5, Asedillo 4, Ermitanio 3, Prado 2, J. Lifoifoi 2.

TDI 80 – Velasco 41, A. Reyes 24, Ibarra 4, Pollisco 4, Mafnas 4, N. Arreza 3.

Scoring by quarters: 14-16, 42-37, 66-54, 89-80.

Tuesday Game
Mariana Resort 127 – J. Lifoifoi 32, Sakisat 26, F. Lifoifoi 25, Factor 20, Ermitanio 10, Fidelino 7, Asedillo 4, Kapileo 2.

Mobil/COAG 48 – Torres 19, Almario 8, Manzano 6, Agustin 4, Sison 4, Pelisamen 3, Muna 2, Cisnero 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-9, 46-24, 89-35, 127-48.