Mystique pummels Aqua Resort

Mystique’s Jetzen Jandoc, right, seen here dribbling away from an AK Toyota defender during their debut game in the Atkins Kroll Marianas International Basketball League, had a triple-double in their victory over Aqua Resort Club last Saturday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Mystique BBQ Grillers made it to the win column of the Atkins Kroll Marianas International Basketball League after walloping Aqua Resort Club, 96-73, last Saturday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

After breathing down on each other’s neck in the first half, Mystique managed to gain distance against Aqua Resort in the third quarter and kept widening the gap in the fourth to bounce back from its debut loss (versus AK Toyota) in the inaugural league.

Jetzen Jandoc led Mystique with his triple-double: 29 points, 11 assists, and 14 rebounds. The power forward delivered 12 points in the third quarter, turning Mystique’s 43-41 halftime lead to a 69-58 advantage. Jonathan Broncano and Ren Gaviola also contributed to Mystique’s cause in the penultimate frame after combining for 11 markers.

Aqua Resort, which led in the first canto, 19-16, after earning a living from the free throw line (making 11 charities) was suddenly down by double digits going into the fourth period, as only Arnold Arellano made more than two field goals in that quarter.

Aqua Resort continued to have challenges finding multiple players to score in the fourth frame, while Jandoc kept going and this time had Gio Dancel backing him up to pad Mystique’s lead. Jandoc added 7 points in the final quarter, while Dancel recorded 8, 6 of them came from beyond the arc, to hand Mystique the 23-point winning margin.

Dancel finished with 13 points, the same output Broncano had, while Joseph Torres and Gaviola also recorded double figures after drilling 12 and 11, respectively.

Mystique managed to run a balance offense, as it registered 29 assists, way more than the 7 that Aqua Resort posted.

David had 20 points for Aqua Resort, which failed to do a follow-up on its 112-68 debut win over TanHoldings.

Meanwhile, TanHoldings will try to notch win No. 1 after dropping its first two matches when it takes on AK Toyota (1-1) this Friday at 6pm. In the 7:30pm tiff, The Game (2-0) will go for the solo lead when it duels the winless Bridge Capital (0-2).

For the Saturday pairing, Saipan Vegas (2-0) squares off against Mystique in the first game, while Aqua Resort battles Caravan’s (1-1) in the second match.

Mystique 96—Jandoc 29, Dancel 14, Broncano 13, Torres 12, Gaviola 11, Bernardo 8, Tekopua 7, Casbin 2, Galulu 1.
Aqua Resort 73—David 20, Itaas 15, Arellano 13, Maratita 12, Ferrer 5, Laboro 3, Telan 2, Tolentino 2, Deleon Guerrero 1.
Scoring by quarters: 16-19, 43-41, 69-58, 96-73.