JEDDAH, 27 June 2003 — AFI Huta Sete beat Mazda 59-50 for third place in the year 2003 Seiko-JBL basketball tournament at the Bin Mahfouz Sports Complex basketball court.
The score kept changing till the last minute of the final quarter. A man-to-man defense of Huta Sete caught Mazda flat footed and they committed passing errors. Reno topscored with 13 points for Huta Sete while Erick Parto and Bada scored 12 points a piece for Mazda. Reno was adjudged as the Seiko best player of the game.
Al Anjal edged Amico Freshlook 52-51. Both teams played well throughout the game. It was a sea-saw battle. With only 5 seconds remaining in the final quarter and the scores tied at 51-51, Al Anjal went to Villegas for the final assault and the plan paid well when Villegas was fouled as the buzzer sounded. Villegas missed the first basket but sank the second for the winning basket. Villegas chipped in 21 points for Al Anjal and was named as the Pulz Al Rabie best player of the game while Feras pumped 14 points for Amico Freshlook.
This tournament is principally sponsored by Seiko-Al Hussaini & Co. (Abdul Rahman Al Hussaini) with co-sponsors Al-Rabie Pulz Sports Drink (Manzour Kharimuddin), Al Hamrani Fuchs Petroleum (Azzar Iqbal), Royal Brunei Airways (Yousuf Ali Javeed), Giordano Fashions (MAK Jeelani), ABS-CBN, the Filipino Channel, Arab News and Al Haddaf Sports Wear (Mohammad Bayoumi).
Hempel Paints defeated MTTS 66-64. It was a close game and the atmosphere was like a championship game. Both teams showed tremendous firepower and applied defensive skills. With only 4 seconds remaining in the final quarter and MTTS was ahead with 1 point, Reyes escaped from his defense and got fouled for two bonus free throws. Reyes coolly sank both baskets and was adjudged as the Seiko best player of the game.
ALJ Prado beat United Yousef Naghi 100-90. ALJ Prado needed a win to play in the best of three championship series for the Bona fide division. United Naghi played side by side with ALJ Prado in the whole game but lost their steam in the dying minute and committed force shots and back-to-back turnovers. Nap Peredo took the scoring load in the final quarter and scored 29 points for ALJ Prado and was named Royal Brunei best player of the game while Nap Solis top score with 28 points for United Yousef Naghi.
Al Tazaj bannered by Leo Almoite, Neri Lacuata, Rolloda and Viscayno will face a tough challenge against United Yousef Naghi with Sihawi Sarip, Nap Solis, Barry Nader, Rick Belarmino and three points specialist Estong Pelagio in the front line in their best of three championship series.
Meanwhile, the preparation for the JBL 2nd Conference basketball tournament is going on and tentatively will start on July 18, 2003 in the same venue.
