RIYADH, 21 March 2004 — Tiny guard Jun Mohammad dished out a giant-sized performance and helped WEMOWA-Extra beat Rio Grande 87-83 Friday in the First Mindanao Overseas Workers Friendship Basketball Tournament for the Arab News Cup here. Using his speed and quickness and hot pair of hands, Mohammad was chiefly responsible in a game-turning third quarter offense that gave Extra its second straight victory in the South Group of the tournament sponsored by Arab News.

Odyssey matched Extra’s pace in the North Group, banking on the troika of Ameril, Tan and Badawi, to trounce Team Falcons 81-69 in the second of two morning games. Ameril shot 22 points, Tan 18 and Badawi 15 as Odyssey took control with a corpuscled game in the last two quarters.

WRJ came back after dropping the first game as it blasted Greenland 91-78. Rockland used a searing 14-0 run to break open what started as a close contest and cruise to a 67-54 triumph over Pacific Cargo in the third game. It was Rockland’s second straight win after an initial loss to Odyssey for a 2-1 win-loss record in the group.

From a 39-38 lead Macapaar hit successive baskets to start that Rockland spree that also contained a basket by ACG, a three-point play by Pundoma and five points from Bani. When the shelling ended Rockland was in control, 53-38, and was never headed after that. Pundoma led Rockland with 18 points, Bani made 10, Macapaar 9 and Boy Bayabao eight.

Down by nine points in the first quarter at 20-11, Extra doggedly worked themselves back into the game that was tied at 41-all at the turn. There were several lead changes after that and Rio Grande and Extra battled through four more deadlocks, the last at 58-all, before Muhammad, with some help from Abao and Adam, took charge.

Breaking free from guards thrown at him, Muhammad cut loose for five points in a 11-2 tear that dissolved a 58-all tie and put Extra ahead by nine at 69-60 ending the third period. Rio Grande tried to rally around the efforts of Angas and Hassan only to get checked each time as Extra repeatedly hit the open man, and when Muhammad again scored unchallenged for a 79-67 count the game had swayed in Extra’s corner, time down to 4:15.

Muhammad had 21 points for Extra, Indasan tallied 19, Abao 14, Adam 12 and Abubakar 10. Maulana led Rio Grande with 21 points with Ahmad and Damada each making 17.

The scores:

WRJ (91) Miraato 27, Ampaso, 16, Mangotara 13, R, Musor 8, Abdulmalik7, Baulo 5, Landas 4, Macabantog 4, A. Musor 2, Gao 2. Greenland (78) Ali 26, Bantuas 18, Sa. Gandamura 12, Sh. Alamada 7, Acob 5, Su. Gandamura 4, Laidan 2, Ampuan 2, Pacasum 2.

Odyssey (81) Ameril 22, Tan 18, Badawi 15, Lidasan 8, Haile 7, Guiali 5, Salik 4, Kikay 2. Head Coach: Rashid Gani. Team Falcons (69) Abdulrakman 18, Baganian 12, Tasil 11, Maulana 10, Midtimbang 8, Abdullah 4, D. Ismael 3, Adok 2, T. Ismael 1.

Rockland (67) Pundoma 18, Bani 10, Macapaar 9, Bayabao 8, Maba 8, Paudac 4, Mustari 2, Dibaraton 2, Guro 2. Pacific Cargo (54) Albiso 12, Amirin 10, Aracama 8, Jaji 8, Astih 8, Kwan 2, Jailani 2, Hafidz 2, Taradji 2. Coach: Munir Adam.

W. Exra (87) Mohammad 21, Indasan 19, Abao 14, Adam 12, Abubakar 10, Misuari 6, Samson 5. Rio Grande (83) Maulana 21, Ahmad 17, Damada 17, Angas 15, N. Pagayao 8, Hassan 3, Duma 2. Coach Hamiludin Bano.

Referees: (FCBR) Greg, Vasques, Joel Borre, Mohammad Villamena, Julio Caringal.