JEDDAH, 4 January — Highly-favored Green Giant, Sadafco and Star Carma opened their campaign with convincing victories over their respective rivals, as hostilities resumed in the 2nd Danube Inter-Color Basketball Tournament at the Lotus IV compound in Jeddah.

The event will run until Feb. 17, with the full backing of Danube Foodstuffs and Commodities management and in coordination with Lotus Compounds. Other supportive companies who helped make the event possible include International Farms, Gandour, Al Basher-Carma, Gillette Middle East, Bahrawi Trading, Tasty Foods Corporation, Nouri Trading Company, Al Muhaidid Foods, American Garden, Fruto, Sadafco, Radwa Farms, Snickers, Green Giant and Danube Graphics.

Green Giant, powered by the rising stars of Danube-4, ousted archrival Nouri Trading, 70-64. Playing coach Darius Valencia and Andy Mirador frolicked in the face of their opponent’s token resistance and led the scoring parade for Green Giant with 19 and 17 points, respectively.

Valencia also pulled down 13 rebounds and earned praise with his glowing shows as the best player of the game.

Role player Manuel Campos also gained the limelight with 15 points, while Lito Llave topped the losing Nouri Trading with 19 points.

Opposing teams and observers kept saying Danube Sadafco was not that good. They went out and proved their worth, as they outmaneuvered Star Carma on both ends of the court and fashioned out an 80-77 victory.

From a 36-30 advantage at the half, Sadafco shone in the offensive end with the bulk of the output coming from Roderick Sauquillo, Alvin Bernardo, Jhez Alfonso, Rey Torres and Boy Cartajena.

They struck with one key player after another to seize control of the contest and all finished with double figures.

The following day, Star Carma learned lessons from their defeat and bounced back with a scintillating performance.

They drew first blood with less drama and emotion over Danube Admin-Gillette, 67-58. Star Carma actually got off to a slow start but they played with a lot of patience, keeping the game close and eventually paced their opponent. Frontliner Vic Mabutol personally stuck the dagger through Gillette’s heart with 19 points, including 7 rebounds and 4 assists, with Willy Cartajena duplicating Mabutol’s showing.

Other game result had Amang Catador turning up his offensive game in the second half and led the home court Lotus American Garden team to a 71-59 thumping of Danube Fruto. Catador tallied 25 points that countered the 24-point showing of Bruce Banaag for Fruto. Two other Lotus players, Alex Sargento and Allen Ng, tossed in double figures and is mentored by seasoned coach Ed Diaz.

The scores:

Green Giant-70: D. Valencia-19, A. Mirador-17, M. Campos-15, M. Beltran-8, R. Amuan-6, E. Du-3, A. Abutin-2 beat Nouri Trading-64: L. Llave-19, R. Arcelias-13, M. Calayo-11, H. Santiago-9, R. Alcaraz-6, J. Jacinto-4, R. Salen-2.

Star Carma-67: W. Cartajena-23, V. Mabutol, 19, W. Perez-18, C. Endaya-6, C. Felicisimo-4, R. Rodolfo-3, F. Caballero-2, R. Domasian-2 beat Gillette Middle East-58: R. Martin-18, B. Faeldonia-10, B. Valenzuela-8, J. Llave-6, J. Valiente-6, C. Del Mundo-4, R. Dizon-2.

Sadafco-80: R. Sauquillo-18, B. Cartajena-15, A. Bernardo-15, J. Alfonso-12, R. Torres-9, F. Mariano-6, C. Toledo-4, A. Aragon-1 beat Star Carma-77: W. Perez-22, V. Mabutol-21, C. Felicisimo-9, F. Caballero-7, W. Cartajena-6.

American Garden-71: A. Catador-25, A. Sargento-12, A. Ng-11, J. Pacillos-6, A. Valdez-3, E. Salvedia-3, A. Reyes-2, E. Diaz-1 beat Danube Fruto-59: B. Banaag-24, M. Bendicio-12, A. Gabia-8, E. Remigio-5, A. De Leon-4, M. Castillejo-4, A. Gales-2.