RIYADH, 1 February — Shib Al Jazeera Construction team maintained their strong position while the Luzviminda team proudly showed their real brand of basketball opening the door to an exciting championship clash in the Sita Cargo Services and 8th Contracting Est. 2nd Open Invitational Basketball Tournament taking place at the 8th Contracting Est. Basketball Court, Riyadh every Friday from 7:00 a.m. onward.
Led by priced cagers Jeff Baybay, Abel "PSY" Carreon, Jhun Farnal and Sandy Alaiza, Shib Al Jazeera roared to victory after sweeping out the Tokyo Sixers team 94-58 in a knockout match. Coach Edwin Sarmiento’s boyz terribly swept the Tokyo Sixers squad playing a brilliant start, exhibiting their agilities and hard court prowess launching a crucial start to the Sixers 12-4 midway to the first quarter and sealing a 10-point lead, 18-8.
Inspite of the big margin, Tokyo Sixers coach Nes Ibanez withstood this position with full courage capitalizing on their strong defense led by Daniel Brizuela who finished with 19 points and 7 rebounds, Angel Tumambing with 10 points and 6 rebounds and Nanud with 12 points and 12 rebounds trying to knife down the level of deficit but missed as the Shib Al Jazeera cagers continued to pound winning shots thus increasing the margin to a bright 17 points with 39-22 margin in the second canto.
In the third quarter, Shib Al Jazeera showed their amazing and versatile performance and mercilessly swept down the Tokyo Sixers and dumped a dazzling 22 points lead, 53-31 with 5:12 left and sealed the quarter with a remarkable 65-45 in their favor. It was an unfavorable situation for the Sixers being undermanned with only six cagers at the same time missing the services of their ace cager Dingdong Suan and received no much backing support from the bench. Not to be outdone, Nanud and Dhods Parangalan of the Sixers showed their best and firmly fought and withstood the killing shots delivered by the Al Jazeera boyz aiming to cut down the margin, but all their efforts were in vain as the latter continued their best ever start in the final quarter sealing a remarkable victory.
With the same good fortune achieved by Shib Al Jazeera, the Luzviminda team of Roger Bajenting routed the BLM team, 86-71. Veteran cager Jhun Reyes led the winning team to victory with his 22 points, 11 dynamic rebounds and 3 steals though ejected from the hard court with 7:35 minutes remaining in the final quarter.
At the start, BLM team gained control and outmaneuvered the Luzviminda squad led by Dennis Almario, Rommel Arguillo and consistent cager Rhey Manigbas that with 1:48 remaining in the first quarter registered a lead of 5 points, 15-10 in their favor. However, with the efforts of Jhun Reyes and Gannie Baldomero, Luzviminda team snatched the lead 16-15 with 43 seconds left in the first quarter and finished the canto with a 18-15 team score in their favor. It was an ideal standing for Luzviminda being in control, which they even maintained in the second quarter through the efforts exerted by Jhun Soriano and Cano. With BLM coach Gilbert Dinoso so spirited but almost facing danger in this crucial situation, re-battled with a fight defense at the start of the third quarter led by Dennis Almario, Rommel Arguillo and Rhey Manigbas trying to regain control and grab the lead but failed in the making as the Luzviminda squad continued showing their versatile performance as their continued to deliver their winning conversions and registered victory 86-71 over the BLM team.
According to Rene C. Tapang, Sports Commissioner of this tournament, this remarkable event is being hosted by Sita Cargo Services in collaboration with 8th Contracting Est. through the generosity of Fikry Younan Andrawis, General Manager. The sponsors of this tournament are Power Horse energy drink, all the way through its Country Manager Hermann Ritz and Ramon "Nonoy" Quema, Jr., TFC-Riyadh through Antonio Velo, Jr. — Country Manager, Al Bustan Ready Mix through Ramir A. Mariano, Rentar Restaurant, and Luzviminda Speed Sports located at Manila Plaza, Batha Area through the kindness of Roger Bajenting.
The Executive Committee of the Sita Cargo Services and 8th Contracting Est. Open Invitational Basketball Tournament include: Rene C. Tapang — Sports Commissioner with Emil Rentar as the Chairman/Treasurer and Sammy Cid as the vice chairman. Other officials are Sandy Rentar, Anthony Rauyana, Ed Tariman, Penn Mallen, Jing Zamudio, Rudy Amihan, Lito Mancilla, and Ernie Hernandez. The FCBR Referees are the officiating referees of this tournament.
On the same venue, this Friday’s action features game one of the best-of-three series between Shib Al Jazeera and Luzviminda teams at 7:00 a.m.
The scores: Shib Al Jazeera Const. (94) — Baybay Jeff 21, Carreon Abel 18, Farnal Jhun 17, Barba 14, Alaiza Sandy 10, Santos Crotty 6, Ladia Dek 4, and Ibno Abdulgapor 4 beat Tokyo Sixers (58) — Brizuela Daniel 19, Nanud 12, Tumambing Angel 10, Ibanez Nestor 9, and Parangalan Dhod 8.
Luzviminda (86) — Reyes Jhun 22, Dela Rosa Charlie 20, Soriano Jhun 12, Cano E. 11, Baldomero Ganie 10, Parungao J. 9, and Male Gener 2 beat BLM (71) - Almario Dennis 22, Arguillo Rommel 16, Manigbas Rhey 15, Maquilan Garry 7, Jusay Jilly 6, and Fernandez Lino 5.
