RIYADH, 9 April 2004 — Benjie Enriquez of the Zahran Company, and Al Arabi Décor’s duo Darwin Cunanan and Buboy Birao piloted their respective teams in the continuing actions of the Jeraisy Group Inter-Company (Bonafide) Basketball Tournament at the Jeraisy Staff Compound Basketball Court, Exit 7 Riyadh.
Benjie Enriquez kept the Zahran team at bay with a 9-0 run. Buboy Birao and Randy David set the record for consecutive triples to tie the ballgame at 22 and managed to get a 5-point lead. But the quick retaliation of Cyrus Ruiz and Anton Castaloni put them back on the driver’s seat.
Motivated by the presence of their team manager Joema Catalan, Darwin Cunanan’s exceptional efforts supported by Alistair Navarro, Eugene Zapata, Raymond Tulud and Al Isip paved the way for Al Arabi to win back the advantage record but was a short-lived as Zahran squad all the way through Dingdong Urrutia and Cyrus Ruiz tied the ballgame at 49 all.
With Choie Urdaneza contributing 11 points at the final quarter and team coach Arnel Ardamoy burying 2 consecutive triples, the Zahran team won the ballgame 85-80.
True to their billing as the league’s Giant Killer, the Kudu team of coach Orlie Casimero dispatched the tandem of Allain Catalan and Rodel Manalo on the scoring spree and the troika of Aries Sarmiento, Jerry Sason and Hatin Jackson at the defense division winning the first quarter by 12 points lead.Saco Hardware’s Albert Aranilla and Reggie Almazan converted consecutive triples and with Eugene Morot, Michael Sarmiento and Willie Dula backing up cut the lead at the second canto end. The defense of the Saco team collapsed as the uninterrupted play of Aries Sarmiento, Allain Catalan, Manuel Calma and Pandoy Rodejo with “Monster Rebounder” Rey Sillo who had recorded 17 rebounds, 2 assists and steals apiece opened the door to a 24 big points gain at the 3rd quarter end while concluding the match with 89-51 team scores in Kudu team’s favor. Worth mentioning, Jimmy Franco, Ador Aguinaldo, Dexter Laudit, and Dennis Disquetado made worthwhile contributions to the Kudu team’s triumph.
Earlier, the Security Forces Hospital team broke the winning streak of the Saudi Lighting team, 84-74. Zernan Salampong, Sherwin Manalo, Oliver Pring, Jay Maristela and Jordan Tan led the Security Forces while Jeff Salac and Erik Gamil finished with 49 combined points Lighting. Johnny Castillo’s Jarir Bookstore team suffered another blow of injury from the Arabian Homes team, 105-70.
Arabian Homes’ Alfredo Granaderos finished with 37 big points, Arnaldo Cajote with 20 and Ding Sotelo with 15 while Rodel Realica and Owen Del Rosario scored 24 and 22 points respectively.
This league is closely coordinated by Riad Siblini, Ed Tamayo, Arnel Divina Gracia, Alvin Mendoza, Ernie Dela Cruz, Rollie Caisip, Elvhin Noceto, and being officiated by the FCBR Referees (Joel Borre, Julius Caringal, Pumar Quillo, Edmar Buena, Art Cobalida, Rodel Bulaon, Nestor Carlos, and Robert Pineda).
