JEDDAH, 24 May — Alvin Serrano of Saudi Oger played so well controlling the board and initiating the productive offensive moves of his team particularly in the second half of the game. NAI-Juffali were leading 38-34 in the first half with Rene Mactal, Alex Vidal and Boy Corsega were firing all cylinders to control the lead. But Saudi Oger bounced back in the second half under their coach Alex Villamayor who used his potential when he tapped his key players to support the most versatile player in Alvin Serrano, a newcomer but a former Pampanga Dragons reserved player in their first year in MBA in Manila.
More than one thousand cheering basketball fans praised Serrano for his performance. Samir Jadallah and Mario Basilio of Saudi Oger were also did their best. Tata Santander, the main man of NAI-Juffali gave his heart into the game top scoring for his team but to no avail.
He fouled out when he committed his 5th and last personal foul in more than three minutes of the game after throwing unsavory remarks against referee Ed Fernandez. Demoralized but still determined to take home the victory, coach Corsega relied on the skills of his top men in Vidal, Batayola, Arce, Maceda, Santos, Madani & Malicsi but the absence of Santander inside the court left a vacuum that resulted to their defeat. Final score was 90-82 in favor of Saudi Oger.
Meanwhile, King Faisal Naval Base of Jawo Atienza vowed to BLO-Binladen of Lody Celestial (103-58) in a lopsided ballgame. The newcomer King Khalid National Guard Hospital of Efren Barros & Michael Cruz walloped Dr. Erfan & Bagedo Hospital of Ademar Suson and Ed Diaz. The victory of KKNGH team was due to the nice playing abilities of Robert Mendoza, Norman Huerto, Javier and Payumo. Marhaba Supermarket of Yahya Al Ittiyath & Gary Rondilla won over the winless Tetra Pak cagers.
Alwan Est. owner Ibrahim Ali Amer Alwan congratulated his boys for their 2nd victory in three outings when they nipped the hardworking Southern Can Making Company team of Hpilipp Pannell & Rolly Sevandra (79-75). Sevandra, Maceda, Hadlocon and Ignacio did their best but luck was not with them, said Commissioner Hernan Huerto after the game. Alwan’s Bong Lingad, Ronquillo, Belarmino, Aquino and Corro top scored for their win. TFC - The Filipino Channel were quite inspired due to the presence of their bosses and ignited well to beat the strong team of Hanco Maintenance of Brown Douglas and Edgar Ainza (84-75).
The triumvirate of Rene Consignado, Ducha and AJ Marcelino blasted Hanco in the twenty-two minutes of the ballgame (48-37). It was the first win of TFC in their three games. Castrol/Hyundai turned the table over Westin Jeddah dribblers (96-77).
They now have identical 1-1 win-loss in the team standings. Aaron Mayo topscored for Castrol/Hyundai with the able support of Solis, Bautista, Packie and Reyes. Gatchalian, Fuentabella, Sulit and Fordan did well for Westin Jeddah. BGY won Friday’s last game. Jamjoom 96 of Roman Del Rosario and Ramon Blanco at the expense of Al-Majal Service Master led by Ken Bautista (68-63). Reyes, Dolloso, Enaje, Eustaquio and Navor topscored for the winners while Manguera, Guinto, Estigoy, Ramos and Alpajaro played well for Al Majal Service Master. This three-month long tournametn was organized by Filipino Basketball Association headed by Gil Manese and Hernan Huerto. Al Hussaini & Co. (Seiko through Abdul Rahman Al Hussaini, Hussam Salahi & Muhammad Ali Taleb principally sponsored the tournament.
