Tan Holdings inches closer to title

Tan Holdings’ Matt Duenas beats Joeten’s Sid Quan, second left, and Ferdie Tobias in this rebound play in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of their title series in the JP World caging last Monday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The championship is within Tan Holdings’ reach following its 84-68 demolition of Joeten in Game 1 of their finals series in the 2nd JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League last Monday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Tan Holdings could close out the short best-of-three championship showdown tonight if it wins in Game 2, while Joeten will aim to extend the series and bounce back from a big letdown in the opener.

What was expected as a close match between the two teams that had similar 7-1 records in the elimination round ended in a blowout with Tan Holdings dominating Joeten from the opening tip up to the final buzzer.

Matt Duenas kicked things off for the top-ranked Tan Holdings, dropping 10 markers in the first period to lift his team to a promising 26-10 advantage. The burly Duenas had an easier time barreling his way into the paint, as Joeten missed the services of one of its frontliners—Steve Rasa.

The energetic Joeten forward suffered from sprain after stepping on somebody’s foot in the rebound play midway in the first period. He left the match with 4 points to his credit and only he and Alex Lauron scored more than one field goal for Joeten in the opening canto.

With Rasa out and helplessly watching on the bench, Duenas and company kept attacking Joeten’s wobbly inside defense to pad Tan Holdings’ lead to 23 at the break, 48-25. Duenas added 7 more points and drew a lot of help from his teammates to send Joeten to a much deeper hole.

Tan Holdings then protected the 20-plus spread in the third quarter with team captain Elmer Esdrelon taking over the scoring chores from Duenas. The veteran guard registered 14 markers in the third canto to keep Tan Holdings’ safe distance, entering the final frame.

In the fourth canto, Tan Holdings went on to establish its biggest lead in the game, 76-48, with Jarett Matsutaro scoring 4 straight points off a putback from Adonis Macoto’s miss and a give-and-go play with Dindo Pablo.

With the game slowing getting away from its hands, Joeten tried to mount a comeback in the remaining eight minutes of the match, but it simply did not have enough offensive firepower and defensive stops to do so. Joeten could only manage to move within 14, 65-79, just 1:39 left on the clock.

Joeten had a chance to bring the deficit down to 12 with Alex Lauron on the foul line, but he muffed both charities and then gave up a foul in the rebound play before voluntarily checking back to their bench to cap the team’s frustrating night.

Duenas and Esdrelon fired 23 points apiece in Tan Holdings’ rout of Joeten, while R.J. Nonato chipped in 13. Dixon Kwon led Joeten with his 20 markers, but missed several shots in the final canto, while Lauron and Sid Quan contributed 12 and 11, respectively.

Game 2 of the title series will be played at 8pm after the 6:30pm consolation match between McDonald’s and Commonwealth Utilities Corp.

Tan Holdings 84—Esdrelon 23, Duenas 23, Nonato 13, Rivera 8, Matsutaro 6, Palacios 5, Kim 3, Pablo 2, Macoto 1.

Joeten 68—Kwon 20, Lauron 12, Quan 11, Taisague 6, Tobias 6, Rasa 4, Jacob 3, Sambile 2, Villegas 2.

Scoring by quarters: 26-10, 48-25, 72-48, 84-68.