JEDDAH, 28 December — Despite the chilly weather, basketball actions were ablaze at the 8th ALJ invitational basketball tournament as two games went into overtime even as Goody and Sharbatly practically assured themselves of semifinals berth by going 5-0 in a weekend of hotly contested match-ups at the ALJ-Rehab.
Saudi Diyar continued its winning form, outsmarting AL-Jomaih GM, 78-75, in OT while Sharbatly won by a whisker, 70-69, also in overtime. Goody prevailed over Sadafco, 72-69, in another closely fought match. In the ALJ inter division, Toyota Echo and Toyota Camry dragged down their respective rivals to remain locked together in first place with identical 4-0 cards. Echo nipped Toyota Century, 85-79, while Camry blasted Toyota Lexus, 87-66.
In other games, D’ Strikers defeated Prince, 76-73, and Royal Blood spilled ALJ Hospital, 83-77, even as Al-Mabani battered Zuhair Fayez, 99-90.
Coach Jemwel del Rosario proved that the Saudi Diyar Consultants’ victory the other week was no fluke as he himself added 6 points to their cause. Boy Manila led them with 19, followed by Roderick Zantua with 18 and Allan Patriarca, 12, in securing a hard-earned victory over luckless Al-Jomaih which turned up with four players scoring double digits to no avail: Dungo (24), Bautista (12), Torres (12), and Oredina (10).
Sharbatly engaged KUDU-Food masters to a 58-deadlock at the end of regulation and relied on Remigio’s final field goal for their hairline win. KUDU’s Felias was almost unstoppable in the extra period but his effort went to naught as Sharbatly’s key players delivered the goods despite fouling out in the game. Tacuboy, Laurente and Penaflor led the winners with 19, 16 and 14 points respectively while the Food masters were paced by Santos with 20 markers. Felias and Romero added 16 and 14.
Godfrey Leal waxed hot in the final quarter scoring 9 of his 23 points while four of his teammates Babes Belen, Jeffrey Caraveo, Jordan Aquino and Jamal Dilawangon scored five points or more in an excruciating display of offensive might and a 32-17 fourth quarter scoring edge over Lexus which was paced by Abad and Martin, 24 and 20.
Larry Sunga had a 10-point fourth quarter explosion and came up with is own share of limelight pumping 24 points behind Gadingan’s 30, Jason Villanueva added 22 as Al-Mabani tweaked Zuhair Fayez paced by Umlas and Mercado with 23 and 20, respectively.
D’Strikers collected its second win in six outings with Nava and Castres submitting 18 and 14 to beat Prince who were led by Samia (24), Salam (16), and Isla (11).
The Abdul Latif Jameel Group of Companies under Sheikh Muhammad Jameel principally sponsors this basketball event undertaken by the Jameel sports organization headed by executive director Jimmy Beltran and commissioner Jhun Gonzales, secretary general Arnold Perez, finance director Jimmy Ong, internal affairs director Abel Chavenia, committee chairman Rene Reys, PRO Noli Morales, director for operations Alex Miraballes, technical committee members Ramon Manguera, Aladino Gregory, Choy Josue, J. Zaragosa, Estong Vargas, Abe Bautista and Juanito Roxas.
