JEDDAH, 26 April — Strikers’ offense took a recess in one particular stretch of the game. So did Toshiba’s. Unfortunately, Toshiba picked the wrong time to do so, as the Strikers survived the scoreless spell to hammer out a hard-earned 81-80 victory last weekend in the 9th ALJ Invitational Basketball Tournament at the ALJ court.
After closing out the first half sitting on a seven-point lead, 33-26, everything seemed working for the Strikers. But they were caught in surprise when Toshiba started out the second half with blazing shots and biting defense to dissolve the deficit in just a little less than two minutes of play. A quick dousing with cold water on each other’s blaze ensued, leveling the count several times until both teams went to a lull.
While the Strikers were on a pause, they engaged in a series of useless fouls for the Toshiba quintet to use the charity line a couple of times. Unfortunately, they fared below standards and failed to make use of that rare opportunity to go for the kill. Toshiba’s final foray also proved futile in the last seven seconds. That was when, with the score was pegged at 81-79 in favor of the Strikers, Leal split his charities that could have forced five more minutes to decide the issue. The struggling Strikers relied on Bong Umlas who completed the game with 32 big points, blended with highlight plays by Edgar Nava and Roy Samson who added 15 and 13 points, respectively. On the other hand, Joel Dela Vega capitalized on his efforts from the three-point arc, providing Toshiba with 26 points that went to a naught.
Overshadowed by the Strikers’ victory was Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital’s impressive 88-70 win over PCC-ALJ that saw Torres, Miguel and Marzan combine for 54 points. The win was Soliman Fakeeh’s second in as many games, gave them the solo leadership, while enhancing their chances for a semifinal berth.
With Torres and Marzan combining in the first half, Soliman Fakeeh raced to a 50-46 lead and were hardly threatened the rest of the way. They controlled the tempo of the game, the closest PCC-ALJ got since the half time break was at 62-47 when Soliman Fakeeh’s offense gradually went out of synch. But PCC-ALJ practically curtailed its offensive show and eventually bowed out midway in the final half when Torres, along with Noel Miguel and Marzan, triggered the hospital workers strong finishing kick from underneath.
Torres, with that wrecking ball of a power forward, scored 23 points, with Miguel and Marzan adding 18 and 13 points. PCC-ALJ had the flexed muscles of Gadingan and Tayam who fought hard to produce 37 and 18 points but their gems went to a naught.
