RIYADH, 26 April — The Cotabato Hunter team of Nasser and Nora Punpunan have something to celebrate! Coaches Joefar Marcelo and Patrick Gatbonton offered their most effective coaching abilities to the Cotabato Hunter team and gave confidence to their mentors by defeating the youth team IPSR (International Philippine School in Riyadh) of coach Kit Umali opening the door to a 2-0 team standings.
In the continuing games of the Jeraisy Group of Companies First Open Inter-Company Basketball League taking place at the Jeraisy Staff Compound Basketball Court, Exit 7 every Thursday and Friday, the Saudi Lighting Company team survived a constricted ballgame against the King Faisal Hospital team, Steelcase Jeraisy boyz got a hold of their second defeat offered by the Meed Pulz group and the Metrostar Express squad concluded the match with Dunkin Donut team to their advantage.
Cotabato Hunter vs. IPSR (101-87) — With high hopes of duplicating their winning stint in their previous trip, the IPSR youth team led by Bernard Manuel, Jeffrey Rivas, Larvo Velarmino, Jojo Flores and Joey Cutanda failed to capitalize and instead rewarded the Cotabato Hunter boyz to take hold of their second win in two outings. With Dennis Magbanua, Jeffrey Salac, Aris Palmero, Vic Bueta and Janer Perez coping up with the tempo coach Joefar Marcelo would like to deliver and with assistant coach Patrick Gatbonton adding spices to a sure win formula, IPSR team coach Kit Umali gambled on changing his players hoping to succeed in finding the proper combination and at the same time narrow their opponents margin. The excellent teamwork of the Hunters paved the way for them to lead all the quarters of this match and finally took a 14-point lead at the buzzer end. Consistent printmaker Jeffrey Salac of the Hunters once again boosted his team to victory with his 32 points share ably supported by his buddy Dennis Magbanua while Aris Palmero recorded 31 points to the team’s spreadsheet.
Saudi Lighting Company (SLC) vs. King Faisal Hospital (70-64) — Ace cager Bong Oraa is still visible in the basketball scene with his distinctive brand of basketball! Though he seldom throw the ball in the hard court these days, Bong still managed to highlight an impressive performance leading his team’s scoresheet in their recent encounter. The King Faisal Hospital team took the lead in the early tick of the first quarter through the defense efforts of Amado Pangilinan and Von Concepcion and successfully closed the canto with a 3-point margin in their favor. Both teams were eager to take the opportunity of winning the game and both coaches applied their effective game pattern on hand. Finally, the SLC team members were fortunate to take the chance of tasting the sweetness of victory at the buzzer end.
Meed Pulz vs. Steelcase Jeraisy (85-67) — The game commenced with the Steelcase scoreless for the last three minutes but was not for the remaining minutes as Jordan Tan woke his teammates up and ended the first canto with only a hairline margin of their opponent, 15-14. Meed Pulz cagers’ rebounding and fast break widen their lead though Mike Salvador and Jordan Tan kept the hope of getting closer. Eduard Abueg, Dave Mallari, Paul Reyes, Leo Nebres and Ed Manansala worked hard to unfasten the Steelcase volt to collapse and effectively controlled the remaining time for them to take the benefit of an 18-point lead.
Metrostar Express vs. Dunkin Donut (78-72) — Benedict Policarpio of the Dunkin Donut team punched the first two consecutive baskets of the ballgame leaving the Express team scoreless for 2:10 minutes while ending the first quarter with 17-all. It was a seesaw battle as both teams score after another and recorded four series of deadlock till the close of the third canto. At the start of the 4th quarter, Allan Galang of the Dunkin Donut rebounded the ball at Metrostar ringside and accidentally shot the ball but was not lucky to convert making the audience cracked series of joke and stood on their feet. Dunkin Donut maintained the lead at 64-63 with 4.15 minutes left in the quarter, but Metrostar boyz led by Raffy Dalisay, Eric Villatema, Gary Maquilan, Wally Talens and Marlon Angel fought gallantly to the defense of their team and would like to settle for a sure win.
The staging of the tournament would not have been possible without the generous support of the sponsors Batelco Jeraisy, Ltd. through Rashid Al-Snan - Executive Director, Pacific Cargo through Edmar Vasquez, Top Cargo through Abdul Yamin Ismail, The Filipino Channel (TFC) through Joel Magpantay, Pinoy Supermarket (located in Batha area) through Joseph Magdalena, Metro Star through Romy Ocbena, and Luzviminda Speed Sports (located at Manila Plaza, Batha) through Roger Bajenting, among others.
The Executive Committee of the Jeraisy Group of Companies First Open Inter-Company Basketball League include: Riad Siblini (Overall Chairman), Ed Tamayo (Commissioner), Alvin Mendoza (Committee Chairman), Ton Ton Fajardo, Belmar Indencia, Nelson Cajayon, and Dodie Tapac.
The scores:
Cotabato Hunter (101) — Salac Jeffrey 32, Palmero Aris 31, Carulasan Mike 11, Perez Janer 9, Magbanua Dennis 6, Bueta Vic 6, and Castillo Nelson 6 beat IPSR (87) — Rivas Jeffrey 26, Manuel Bernard 14, Flores Jojo 11, Velarmino Larvo 11, Cutanda Joey 9, Armario Saldo 8, Agahan Mark 5, and Mariano Lawrence 3. Referees: Julius Caringal and Robert Pineda.
Saudi Lighting Company (70) — Oraa Bong 16, Gamil Eric 13, Condinato Genie 12, Muhammad Fahad 10, Silverio Larry 6, Alcodia JunJun 6, Bernawe Osman 4, and Agana Egay 3 beat King Faisal Hospital (64) — Pangilinan Amado 14, Concepcion Von 14, Vidal Bobby 11, Gonzales Clemen 11, Anota Enrico 8, Velasco Melvin 5, and Gabriel Dennis 1. Referees: Ernie Dela Cruz and Boyet Liboon.
