Shirley’s, MBI/Anchor win opening games

Shirley’s Coffee Shop and Micronesian Brokers. Inc. Anchor got off to a good start, prevailing in the opening games in the 2014 JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League last Sunday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

MBI/Anchor played in the curtain-raiser and edged Public School System, 70-67, while Shirley’s downed Joeten in the second match, 88-74. Both MBI/Anchor and Shirley’s led in the first period of their respective matches and withstood their foes’ repeated comeback wins to start their campaign in the nine-team league on a winning note.

Shirley’s Coffee Shop’s Matt Duenas goes up for an acrobatic shot as he is challenged by Joeten’s Rio Jacob during the fourth quarter of their game in the JP World caging last Sunday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Ivan Devero and Angelo Fernando lifted MBI/Anchor to the 3-point win, as they scored 21 points apiece and knocked down crucial baskets in the homestretch. Devero scored three important free throws, while Fernando drilled MBI/Anchor’s last 3 markers. MBI/Anchor’s 1-2 punch combined for 12 of the team’s 16 points in the fourth quarter to someone offset the 13 points Maverick Itibus made in PSS’ final push in the payoff period.

PSS played catch up in the entire second half, as it faced a 26-44 deficit at halftime. The Bob Coldeen Sr.-coached PSS could not find the hot hand in the first half as it made only 13 points each in the first and second quarters, while MBI/Anchor had at least 20 markers apiece with Devero and Fernando anchoring the team’s offense.

PSS then made a little headway in the third to cut the deficit to a manageable number, 44-54, as Preston Basa fired 10 points after being held to two goals in the first half and Joe Villacrusis ended the quarter with three straight baskets. Itibus took over from Basa and Villacrusis in the fourth, as PSS moved to within single digits, however Fernando and Devero came to MBI/Anchor’s rescue to win the opener.

In the second game, Shirley’s also closed out strong en route to the 14-point win.
Shirley’s saw its once 14-point advantage down to 8 points, 82-74, after Joeten’s Ferdie Tobias hit a triple from the right corner, 2:43 left on the clock. However, that was also the closest Joeten could get as it was held scoreless in the remaining minutes of the match, while a pair of charities from Elmer Esdrelon brought Shirley’s lead back to twin digits. Two straight undergoal stabs from Vince Manibusan clinched the win for Shirley with under one minute left in the match.

Matt Duenas top-scored for Shirley’s with his 28 points before he fouled out midway in the fourth, while John Jugos added 14 and Erick Dela Rosa and Esdrelon contributed 12 and 11, respectively. Alex Lauron paced Joeten with his 16 markers.
Meanwhile, four more teams debuted in the JP World caging yesterday with McDonald’s scheduled to meet Top Development, Inc. in the first match last night and Commonwealth Utilities Corp. set to duel Docomo in the second game.

First Game

MBI/Anchor 70 – Devero 21, Fernando 21, Capalad 9, Lizama 9, Zapanta 4, Garcia 3, Viola 2,

PSS 67 – Basa 20, Itibus 20, Diaz 10, Villacrusus 8, Manibusan 5.

Scoring by quarters: 20-13, 44-26, 54-44, 70-67.

Second Game

Shirley’s 88 – Duenas 28, Jugos 15, Dela Rosa 12, Esdrelon 11, Rabasto 6, Manibusan 5, Usi 4.

Joeten 74 – Lauron 16, Teregeyo 12, Tobias 11, Kwon 10, De Leon 8, Jacob 4, Sambile 2.

Scoring by quarters: 27-15, 46-33, 68-59, 88-76.