ALKHOBAR, 10 May — Arthur Palima knew his contribution dipped, so he showed Sigma Paints that he can still lit up the scoreboard. And what a time to step up but in the finals.

Cirio Medel scored 29 points and Palima 16 points and 12 rebounds as the top-seeded Paint Masters spanked the National Pipe Company 110-69 in Game 1 of the 2002 Open Conference best-of-three finals of the Eastern Province Basketball League at the Al-Nahda Club gymnasium.

The highly anticipated meeting of the EPBL’s two powerhouse teams failed to live up to their billing, but the Paint Masters got a lopsided victory by taking the lead of Palima, their wily veteran center. He provided several important baskets with his laborious game and his defensive presence was a key to NPC’s struggles.

I have been relegated to a supporting role," Palima said. "Now that two of our starters are gone, somebody has to step up and I promised myself to give it all out in this series."

It was a cold splash of reality for the Pipe Makers, who entered the finals via a three-game win streak in this tournament jointly sponsored by LBC Makati Express and Phuket Restaurant. NPC often looked flat and disorganized while shooting less than 25 percent. Coach Dante Del Valle gave all the credit to Sigma, which injected a few defensive ideas into the series.

"We didn’t have anything we could bank on offensively," Del Valle said. "We just looked like we were in a hurry. We didn’t get comfortable in our offensive sets, ever. We didn’t really have anybody that played up to their potential — but it was just Game 1."

Sigma played tough defense and capitalized on their low-post options of Medel and Palima and the outside snipings of Segio De Asis and Ramil Zarandin — options that NPC don’t have and can’t readily defend.

"Arthur was the man," said team manager Henry Domingo. "He picked up the slack and got us into the game. He set it all up for us."

The Paint Masters won the first finals berth after finishing with the best record in the elimination round, but many considered them an underdog against NPC, with its up-tempo offense and collection of scorers. Starters Wene Datungputi and Tommy Parris are out on repat.

What’s more, the Pipe Makers have won their last three games and were the only team to beat Sigma during the elimination round.

But with a lopsided Game 1 victory, the Paint Masters reminded the league which team is to beat this season.

"We came out aggressive and hitting our shots, and they struggled to get the looks that come so easy for them sometimes." Sigma playing-coach Zarandin said. "Our scouting paid off".

Ernie Baggay had 21 points and 13 rebounds. Edgard Bucalin had 15 points and Anthony Nabong 11. Scoring leader Murhaf Abdul Mohsin struggled, scoring 6 points and 0-for-9 at the three point range.

"We may have become overconfindent a little bit, and we came out sluggish," Baggay said. "It’s frustrating, but we knew we wouldn’t go undefeated in the playoffs."

"They’re capable of making big shots, and we’re expecting them to come back next time", Domingo said.

In League B, Saudi Ready Mix stomped their class over title-favorites, Tibay 3 for a 99-89 win in Game 1 of their own best-of-three championship series.

Slotman Francis David and the sweet-shooting Rolly Bisda combined for 57 points while Marlon David added 21 points and 10 rebounds in leading the Mixers to their fourth win in a row.

"Hopefully we’ll get it this time", said team manager Willie De Lara referring to the Mixers’ two failed attempts of landing a title since joining the league in 1999.

Bisda survived an early foul trouble after getting his fourth in the second quarter.

"We mixed it up a little bit on defense to keep Rolly (Bisda) till the final minute", coach Gil Bulaon said. "Its really surprising that nobody from Tibay went after him".

The Ilocano tandem of Argie Ballugo and Abe Alonzo topped Tibay with 20 and 19 points, respectively.