JEDDAH, 25 January — Expect an all-out war as the sudden-death crossover semifinals gets going this very morning in the OFBL-STBA Friday Morning Sunriser Games at the Saudi TelCom Al-Nuzhla gym. Al-Tazaj Fakieh and Kentucky Fried Chicken are anxious who between the two of them will be grilled in the curtain raiser.
Afterward, host Saudi TelCom takes on D’ Captain of a blockbuster doubleheader in Group A. In Group B semifinal actions, Denso-ALJ aims to crumple GulfMaid Plastics while Kodak tries to frame Brutos for a souvenir.
The match-ups are arranged based on the elimination round record of the semifinalists where the top team faces the fourth and the second placer tangles with the third.
There was no further hitch in Group A matches but in Group B where three teams tied for the first and third places at 6-2 all, ALJ-Denso got the top ranking as it bested both Brutos and Kodak in their elimination campaign.
Ilagan and Deang scored 22 and 19 as Burger King defeated D’Captain 73-61 to bow out of the tournament with their pride intact but the loss did not dash the semifinal stint of the Blitzers who were paced by Coronejo with 28 points, Astronomo added 12.
Hydraulic City tried their very best to land the a semifinal berth trampling Brutos 99-89 as Jonjon Ramirez drilled 32 markers and three other team mates submitted double-digit scores.
But their effort went to naught as MODA Defenders fell to a 94-97 decision over SPS-Kodak.
Had the defenders who were leading by five points inside the fifth minute mark of the final quarter won, Hydraulic City would have had an outside chance to enter the crossover and MODA as well, since the teams involved including Kodak and GulfMaid would have shared identical 5-3 win-loss slates.
Scores: Burger King 73 — Ilagan 22, Deang 19, Narnola 9, Mlina 7, Dres 5, Pardo 5, Leal 4, Fulgencio 2. D’Captain 61 — Coronejo 28, Astronomo 12, Luz 8, Dizon 6, Aquino 4, Suing 1, Regil 1.
Hydraulic City 99 — Jonjon Ramirez 32, Ambus 18, Ramirez 15, Lipat 12, Geolin 8, Garcera 6, Manacmol 4, Retuita 2. Brutos 89 —Bautista 27, Navor 17, Alcala 16, Doloso 12, Reyes 8, Baluarte 6, Razon 2, Buhat 1.
Kodak 97 — Cruz 28, Javier 21, Ramirez 13, Payumo 13, Cardano 8, Francisco 77, Panilag 5, Aviles 2. MODA Defenders 94 — Mangune 16, Moneim 16, Nanquil 15, Luat 12, Malibiran 8, Cantona 8, Muncal 8, Sison 7, Bonifacio 4.
Complete results of the OFBL-STBA Friday Morning Sunriser Games elimination round:
Al Tazaj —Fakieh(84) vs. Jeddah Friends 76; The Captain (76) vs. Kentucky Fried Chicken (69); Saudi TelCom 983) vs. Popeye Nuggets (70); Denso ALJ (95) vs. Cardinals (59); GulfMaid (91) vs. Hydraulic City (87); Kodak (92) vs. Al-Yanabie (82).
Brutos (122) vs. GulfMaid (118) overtime; Hydraulic City (70) vs. Al Yanabie (61); Brutos (100) vs. Cardinals (79); MODA Defenders (83) vs. Denso ALJ (75); The Captain (780 vs. Popeye Nuggets ( (69); Kentucky (84) vs. Jeddah friends (81); Hydraulic (69) vs. Al-Joon (52); MODA Defenders (90)vs. Al-Yanabie (88); Denso ALJ (84) vs. GulfMaid (74); Kodak (101) vs. Cardinals (78); GulfMaid (73) vs. Al-Joon (68); Popeye Nuggets (99) vs. Kentucky (92); Saudi TelCom (69) vs. Burger King (47); Brutos (122) vs. Al-Yanabie (59); Kodak (112) vs. Denso ALJ (98); Hydraulic City (84) vs. MODA Defenders (78).
