MBI/KFC nears regular season sweep

MBI/KFC’s White Capalad pulls up for a corner jumper in their game against Mariana Resort in the JP World caging last week at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. He scored 25 points in their 95-82 win versus Tan Holdings last Friday. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Micronesian Brokers, Inc./Kentucky Fried Chicken moved a win away from sweeping the regular season of the 2nd JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League following a 95-82 victory against Tan Holdings last Friday at Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

MBI/KFC won the battle of unbeaten teams and improved its record to 7-0 after drawing solid offensive games from the trio of Angel Fernando, White Capalad, and Ivan Devero. Fernando led all scorers with his 37 points, while Capalad and Devero chipped in 25 and 21, respectively. Perry Inos was the fourth MBI/KFC player to finish in twin digits, contributing 10.

Capalad knocked in 13 of his total points in the third quarter, while Devero added 8 to give MBI/KFC a double-digit spread, 66-53, after Tan Holdings sliced the deficit to two at the break, 36-38. Tan Holdings was behind by 9, 18-27, at the start of the second quarter, but threatened MBI/KFC after getting 10 markers from Elmer Esdrelon in that period.

Esdrelon continued to lead Tan Holdings’ recovery, but Fernando counter-attacked, picking up where Capalad left off in the final canto. Fernando, who was held to a field goal in the third frame, poured 17 points in the fourth quarter, including 10 straight markers past the halfway mark of the payoff period to keep MBI/KFC’s safe lead.

Meanwhile, Tan Holdings quickly recovered from its first loss in the season and notched its fifth win after outclassing McDonald in last Monday’s second game, 80-71.

Paul Quizon, who was limited to 9 points in their defeat at the hands of MBI/KFC, redeemed himself against McDonald’s, tallying a game-high 29 points. He fired 16 of them in the first half, where Tan Holdings managed to build a 45-34 advantage, and then added 9 more in the third to complete the breakaway as his team enjoyed a 63-46 lead. McDonald’s never made headway to drop to a 2-4 record.

Friday Game
MBI/KFC 95 – Fernando 37, Capalad 25, Devero 21, Inos 10, Ganacao 2.

Tan Holdings 82 – Esdrelon 30, Duenas 15, Nonato 14, Quizon 9, Palacios 8, Rivera 4, Matsutaro 2.

Scoring by quarters: 27-18, 38-36, 66-53, 95-82.

Monday Game
Tan Holdings 80 – Quizon 29, Matsutaro 13, Rivera 13, Nonato 10, Macoto 7, Esdrelon 3.

McDonald’s 71 – Gaspar 18, Mc. Achas 17, Palacios 14, Gapor 11, Mi. Achas 4, Rigua 2, L. Achas 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-16, 45-34, 63-46, 80-71.