RIYADH, 14 March 2004 — Abdulrahman shot 37 points to help Team Falcons score a 73-70 victory over Pacific Cargo Friday in the Mindanao Overseas Workers Friendship Basketball Tournament for the Arab News Cup at the Sheraton Riyadh Hotel and Towers court here. It was the Falcons’s first triumph in the North Group, a feat matched by South Group debutant Extra which downed WRJ 73-71 in another close match in the tournament sponsored by Arab News, and co-sponsored by Manila Plaza and Power Horse energy drink.

Rockland and Rio Grande recovered from initial setbacks in a big way during the evening matches that capped the day’s quadruple bill. Rockland dominated Saco Hardware to post an 80-61 victory in the North Group, while Rio Grande steamrollered Al Omar 84-60 in the South Group.

Canizares led Pacific Cargo with 16 points to go with 14 apiece by Albiso and Amereen. Extra lost a double-digit lead and was indeed lucky to survive the homestretch WRJ rally sparked by Rasheed Mangutara and Malik Baulo. Mangutara made 15 points before fouling out while the ‘Smiling Face’ Baulo had 16 including back-to-back three-pointers in the dying seconds.

Rockland planted the seeds of the rout by taking a 29-13 lead in the second quarter and never looked back. In a battle between teams whose players trace their roots in Maguindanao, Rio Grande simply got the better of Al Omar in the last two quarters for their first win. Al Omar simply lost its grip on the game and was without a basket for full five minutes of the third quarter, virtually handing Rio Grande the game on a platter. Not that Rio Grande didn’t have to work, Al Omar’s foldup only made it easy.

Rio Grande guard Mansour Ahmad and Damada started the 16-0 blast with unchallenged baskets. Pretty soon, Rio Grande was up by nine points at 56-47 from a 47-40 halftime deficit and, after ending the third period at 64-56, they began the fourth quarter with another 11-0 bomb to put themselves beyond reach 76-56. Gabriel Maulana and Norhato Pagayao joined Ahmad in that fiery fourth quarter stretch that spelled doom on the hapless Al Omar whose cause was not helped by the loss to injury of big man Hairul Ibrahim.

The tournament is supervised by a Council of Elders composed of Abdulhannan Faisal Tago, Nurquiaez Mohammad, Jacaria Hassan and Amen Panoling, and run by various committees. The tournament director is Omar Mapandi, Technical Committee Chairman Muhktar Julkipli and Technical Committee Vice Chairman Jamil Zaman.

Zatrac Basketball Set to Roll

The Zahid Tractor Basketball Tournament Central Region First Conference 2004 “The 10th Cup” will start on March 26 at the Zahid Tractor Property and Maintenance court here. Zahid Tractor Basketball Committee Chairman Armin A. Gonzales said they are now receiving entries for the tournament. Teams may enter either the Intercompany Bonafide or 5-8 Below category or both, according to Gonzales. The entry deadline is on March 19. Interested teams may contact Gonzales at 231-9984 ext. 266 or 0573-35327.