TanHoldings inches closer to title

TanHoldings’ R.J. Nonato unloads a shot against Mariana Resort’s Jun Fidelino, right, and J.R. Lifoifoi during the second quarter of Game 1 of their title series in the JEM/Mobil caging last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

TanHoldings is one win away from taking the championship in the JEM Company Ltd./Mobil Customer Appreciation Basketball League following a 97-94 victory against Mariana Resort in Game 1 of their title series that was marred by a bench-clearing scuffle last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

TanHoldings stole Game 1 despite falling behind by as much as 13 in the first quarter, 13-26, and 10 midway in the final canto after Mariana Resort collapsed in the homestretch.

Mariana Resort was still enjoying a double-digit lead, 84-74, after Frank Lifoifoi made a point-blanked shot with still 5:37 left on the clock when Douglas Schmidt anchored TanHoldings’ backbreaking 15-3 run in the next two minutes and change. Schmidt started the rally with a triple and he went on to score 13 of TanHoldings’ points in that surge with his pair of free throws putting his team on top for the first time, 89-87. R.J. Nonato tallied the 2 other markers for TanHoldings, while Jun Fidelino made a 3-point play in Mariana Resort’s meltdown.

TanHoldings went on to increase its lead to 6, 95-89, after Schmidt, Nonato, and Elmer Esdrelon made one basket apiece against J.R. Lifoifoi’s jumper. Mariana Resort then sued for time to stop the bleeding, but faltered in their next three attempts, going to the last two minutes of the match.

Mel Sakisat tried anew for Mariana Resort, but his heave from beyond the arc fell short, while his teammate Jun Fidelino and TanHoldings’ Elmer Esdrelon jockeyed for position inside the paint for the rebound. Both Fidelino and Esdrelon eventually fell down and soon after players from both camps and some spectators were on the court, either trying to break up players confronting each other or pick a fight.

Fortunately, referees and game officials stepped in quickly, preventing further fight and when the tension subsided, seven players were ejected from the game. TanHoldings’ Paul Quizon, Jarett Matsutaro and Dindo Pablo were thrown out for leaving the bench, while Lerio Pagarao was also removed from the playing court for an unsportsmanlike conduct (confronting a spectator). As for Mariana Resort’s side, Masaki Kitani and J.R. Lifoifoi were also ejected for entering the playing court, while Fidelino joined them in the showers for committing a flagrant foul on Esdrelon.

Esdrelon made the two charities to up their lead to 8, 97-89, down to the last 1:23 of the intense series opener. Esdrelon and company then used the clock to their advantage, while Mariana Resort tried to rally back after scoring 5 straight points off Frank Lifoifoi’s layup and Prince’s Factor’s triple. However, Mariana Resort run out of time, as Factor knocked in the trey with just two seconds left and no one from his teammates bother to contest TanHoldings’ inbound play in the dying seconds of Game 1.

With the come-from-behind victory, TanHoldings has a chance to close the short series tonight in Game 2, which will be played at 8pm after the third place battle between Best Deal/RNV Construction and McDonald’s.

TanHodings, however, will play Game 2 without Quizon, Matsutaro, Pablo, and Pagarao, who were suspended for one match. Also sitting out Game 2 are Fidelino, J.R. Lifoifoi, and Kitani. League commissioner Marlon Sison explained that the suspension was based on the tournament ground rules on players ejected and charged with unsportsmanlike conduct. Sison added that game officials will be calling it tighter for tonight’s match to avoid the same incident. He also appealed to both teams and their supporters to keep their cool.

With four players down and Matt Duenas already out of TanHoldings’s roster, Schmidt is expected to carry the cudgels anew for his team after scoring 44 points in Game 1. Schmidt missed the opening minutes of the series opener and came in only under the seven minute mark of the first quarter with Mariana Resort ahead, 6-0. He announced his presence in the game by sinking a triple and he went on to do most of the damage for TanHoldings, helping his squad claw back from a double-digit deficit.

Pagarao backed up Schmidt with his 21 points, while the suspended Fidelino led Mariana Resort with his 25 markers.

TanHoldings 97 — Schmidt 44, Pagarao 21, Esdrelon 11, Nonato 10, Demapan 5, Matsutaro 2.

Mariana Resort 94 — Fidelino 25, Sakisat 16, Factor 14, F. Lifoifoi 11, Prado 8, J. Lifoifoi 8, Kitani 6, Arthur 2, Kani 2, Ermitanio 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-28, 40-47, 63-71, 97-94.