Tigers begin title defense in winning note

Defending champion Food and Beverage Tigers opened up their title-retention bid with a 98-92 win over Finance/Shipping in Tuesday night’s game in the 7th Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino Inter-Departmental Basketball League at the TDHC staff house court.

Both teams renewed their rivalry on the hard court as the game was a rematch of their 2006 championship game, which the Tigers won.

It was a tight ballgame from the start as neither team led by more than 10 points, but the Tigers proved they had a lot of gas left in their tank to complete the win.

The game seemed like a finals matchup as players from both teams played like there was no tomorrow. Players battled for every ball possession at times diving just to keep the loose ball in play.

The trio of Dan Bustillos, Mike Torregosa, and Dennis Espiritu joined hands in the final period to give Finance/Shipping a still manageable four-point lead midway in the quarter.

That was when Charlie Fernandez and Noel Sabordo took over, pouring in the points needed to let the Tigers escape with the win.

Sabordo paced the Tigers with 38 points, while Fernandez scattered 37 more.

Torregosa led Finance/Shipping with 31 markers, while Bustillos and Espiritu added 23 and 17 apiece.

In the first game, Leo Pascua took over in overtime to lift Security Department to a come-from-behind 79-71 victory against FO/Housekeeping.

Housekeeping seemed headed for the win with Gabby Cajayon’s game-long exploits but could not find the knockout punch to silence their opponents.

Pascua then waxed hot in the fourth period to force the five-minute extension, then carried the scoring chores for his team in overtime. He finished with a game-high 43 points.

The league opened on Sunday with a simple ceremony that saw participating teams parade around with their colorful uniforms and muses. F&B Chefs won the best in uniform trophy, while FO/Housekeeping won the best muse.

TDHC’s hotel manager Tom Liu delivered the opening remarks and made the ceremonial toss, while Ed Cannoay declared the games opened.

There were two games scheduled to be played on opening day when it was cancelled due to rain. The Tigers were supposed to face the Taga-Housing Department in the first game, while the F&B Chefs were supposed to play against the Casino Department Titans.

Club TDHC organizes the league, which also has Finance, Shipping, Housekeeping and F.O., and Security Department as the other competing teams.

Club TDHC is headed by acting president Eddie Cannoay and supported by TDHC manager Tom Liu and adviser Antonio “Uncle” Quan.

Security Department 79 – Pascua 43, Del Rosario 16, Manglona 8, Neypes 6, Sabugo 3, Ancheta 2, Cielo 1.

FO/Housekeeping 71 – Cajayon 18, Miranda 14, Nuera 12, Patron 9, Agader 4, Carreon 4, Laurio 4, Arriola 3, Orbigo 3.

Scoring by quarters: 8-13, 22-27, 37-44, 61-61, 79-71 (OT).

F&B Service Tigers 98 – Sabordo 38, Fernandez 37, Pavino 9, Gilber 6, Gammad 4, Flores 2, Pollisco 2.

Finance/Shipping 92 – Torregosa 31, Bustillos 23, Espiritu 17, Manriquez 6, Gerogalin 4, Malimban 4, Piol 3, Lagrazon 2, Rosales 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-19, 48-46, 69-67, 98-92.