JEDDAH, 7 February 2003 — The ongoing 1st Samsung- 15th FBA Basketball Tournament at Sheraton Compound Basketball Court is now on its final leg and is expected to wind up after the Haj holidays right after the Inter-Regional Championship on Feb. 11, 12 & 13 involving Dammam, Riyadh & Jeddah.
FBA leaders Gil Manese, Hernan Huerto and Lito Martin congratulated the semifinal qualifiers headed by SBG-RPD of Anwar Hafez and Dino Maynigo in the Inter-Company Bona fide Division. Other teams who made it in the semi’s are Al-Majal Service Master of Khalid Nagadi & Ken Bautista, Hanco Maintenance (Norwich Union) of Brown Douglas and Edgar Ainza, Jeddah Cable - (Al Hejaz Cargo) of Mahmood Protacio and Felix Jordan, El Khereiji - (Junastar Cargo) of Jun Astilla and Boy Mangilin, and Samsung team of Essam Abbas & Ehab Mohammad. Making it in the magic four for the non-rated teams are Brutus team of Ramon Borja and Ruel Buhat, Talk N Text of Gerry Acosta and Ferdie Dalinoc, Al Anjal School of Daniel Bokelman and Dexol Transmission of Warren Lawrence. The best of seven championship series of Al-Tayar Plastic team of Fahad Alkhuteifi and Hafil Transport of Ibrahim Al-Jilani is now on its game number four and if Al-Tayar will again prevail in this game, they will be the outright champion in the Inter-Company Bona fide Strong Division.
The only group that is not yet sure in their team standing and who still have three more games left is the Open Rated Division composed of Goody team of Eric Abrantes and Johnny Magalang, Watani Supermarket of Monching Constantino & Sammy Lomboy, Sigma Paints of Mike & Almeyra Ali and NAI Juffali of David Jeans and Alex Vidal.
The January 24, 2003 issue in the Arab News should read Jeddah Hilton won over Sadafco (87-73) instead of the other way around as earlier published.
Last week results are as follows:Goody team of Eric Abrantes won over NAI-Juffali of Alex Vidal and Boy Corsega (86-76). Nai-Juffali will now have to wait for a knockout game with the team that will occupy the third slot to settle for the 3rd and 4th place Hanco Maintenance (Norwich Union) team of Coach Jun Nieva and Edgar Ainza prevailed over Leylaty team of Coach Charbel and Mir Inayat Tullah Khan (106-54). King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital of Ric Jabonete and Boy Silagpo downed Zahid Tractor of Rolly Villanueva (85-71) ALJ-Rehabilitation Hospital headed by Kennedy De Leon and Lando Santelices won over the Unilever - S.A. team of Leo Rivera and Mazen Al-Hassan.
