McDonald’s beats CUC to keep clean slate

McDonald’s Joe Ayuyu Jr. drives against Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s Andrew Masga, right, and Robert Lieto during the third quarter of their game in the JP World caging last Monday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

McDonald’s went 6-for-8 in the foul line in the final 1:36 of match to take the 5-point win and improve its record to 2-0. CUC dropped to a 1-1 card, failing to make a follow-up on its 67-63 debut victory against Docomo Pacific last week.

Mike Achas hit four of those six free throws, while Gil Gapor nailed the other two, as McDonald’s was forced to secure the close win from the charity line with CUC gambling on giving up fouls to overhaul the seven-point deficit, 62-55.

McDonald’s seven-point advantage once stood at three, 58-55, with CUC having possession and a chance to tie the match with a triple. However, James Benavente’s bounce pass to John Santos near the top key was intercepted by Richard Cruz, who then went all the way for a fastbreak layup, made the basket, and drew a foul on Santos. Cruz muffed the bonus charity, but got the rebound, as CUC failed to box him out. With Cruz regaining possession, McDonald’s got another crack at the basket and Gapor took charge, drawing a foul against Lieto on his way for a point-blanked shot. The McDonald’s mobile big man made both charities to up their lead to seven.

Despite McDonald’s four-point swing, CUC refused to wave the white flag, as back-to-back baskets from Frank Mizutani kept the team in the game. However, Achas countered with two free throws on the other end and after CUC’s John Santos knocked in a pair, too, the former made two splits in McDonald’s last two possessions to secure the victory.

McDonald’s needed a steady hand from the foul line as CUC kept making comebacks since the start of the first quarter, which ended with the former ahead by 11, 20-9. Cruz starred in McDonald’s first-quarter show, drilling four straight triples. McDonald’s was on target from beyond the arc early in the game, as all but one of its field goals came from the 3-point area with Larry Achas and Gapor drilling the two other triples. Joseph Achas hit the lone two-pointer for McDonald’s in the opening canto, while CUC was held to two field goals and four free throws.

CUC brought the lead down to single digit at the break, 22-30, as McDonald’s shooters cooled down. CUC went on to move within two early in the third, 31-33, but McDonald’s dropped a 12-1 bomb in the next five minutes to take a baker’s dozen lead. CUC ended its field goal drought at the under one minute mark of the third period, but McDonald’s kept the double-digit advantage, 45-34.

McDonald’s tried to protect its safe distance in the fourth and was successful in the opening minutes of the final canto as Cruz reported back to the game and nailed back-to-back triples. However, CUC also began hitting its shots from downtown to slowly catch up with McDonald’s and the latter was pressured to lean to its free throw shooting to foil the former’s repeated comeback bids.

Cruz top-scored for McDonald’s with his 21 points, 18 of them came from the three-point region, while Gapor added 13. Mizutani paced CUC with his 17 markers, while Santos contributed 15.

Meanwhile, Micronesian Brokers, Inc/Anchor and Joeten played in the first game last Monday and results will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Thursday edition.

McDonald’s 66 – Cruz 21, Gapor 13, Mc. Achas 9, Corpuz 6, Mi. AChas 6, Ayuyu 4, L. Achas 2, J. Achas 2.

CUC 61 – Mizutani 17, Santos 15, Iramk 8, Madracheluib 7, Poquiz 3, Serrano 2, Lieto 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-9, 30-22, 45-34, 66-61.