JEDDAH, 9 April 2004 — Jeddah All Stars proved too good for Riyadh Selection in the Seiko-Gabay OFW Filipino Basketball Friendship Game posting a 94-88 triumph in an exciting encounter at the Ittihad Sport Club.
From as early as five in the afternoon, spectators started lining-up to watch the best pinoy players from Riyadh and Jeddah play a championship match in the Gabay-OFW-FBA Friendship Games jointly organized by the Gabay-OFW Party List led by Rudy Dianalan, Corly Obtinalla and Ben Garcia and supported by the Filipino Basketball Association (FBA) headed by Gil Manese and Lito Martin.
Jong Rapada scored 15 points of his 27 points in the decisive first half, and the Jeddah All Stars thumped the visiting Riyadh Selection on Thursday night to preserve their first victory. Riyadh’s duo Dave Gana and Jeff Baybay kept their double hopes alive on Friday when they sparked a rally to pull their side at 58-49 in the third quarter.
The lead changed hands from there on with Dave Gana of Riyadh and Rivero of Jeddah standing out. With less than a minute left, Jeddah escaped with the home-court victory at 79-70. In addition, Dave Gana of Riyadh and Omeng Sahagun of Jeddah won the best guard awards while Dante Rivero and Jong Rapada were adjudged as the best forwards.
Jeff Baybay of Riyadh picked the best center award of this friendship game being organized by Gabay OFW Party List Representative in the Western Region. Dante Rivero was chosen as the Most Valuable Player while the best coach award went to Boy Corcega.
Jeddah All Stars team grabbed the championship of the game award sponsored by Seiko Al Hussaini & Co. through Abdul Rahman Al-Hussaini, Hussam Salahi and Mohammad Ali Taleb, with cosponsors were SkyFreight Forwarders, Makati Express LBC, WRJ Cargo, OWWA-POLO, El Gusto sari-sari store, ABS-CBN International “The Filipino Channel”, La Parilla and Ben Filipino Food Stuff.
Selected as members of the Mythical Five were Dave Gana and Jeff Baybay of Riyadh (SkyFreight), while the other three were Dante Rivero, Omeng Sahagun and Jhong Rapada.
Gabay executive officers expressed their appreciation to all who contributed to the success of the event which was held simultaneously with the ongoing 10th Seiko-18th FBA Basketball Tournament.
FBA president Gil Manese announced that the best players from Dammam (Eastern Province) will also be invited to come to Jeddah in May. A three point shooting competition will also start this week and valuable prizes await the winners. Call Lito Martin at 6636936 X 302 for further information and registration. There will be a drawing today at 7 p.m. at the La Parilla Restaurant for the lucky winners of fabulous prizes.
Last week regular games results: Saudi Hi-Tech of Rudy Roaya and Martin Roaya emerged winners and outscored the ABS-CBN TFC cagers of Jet Gonzales (99-77) inspite of the good play of Consignado, Ducha, Batuhan and Morales. Bacotoc, Navarro, Mercado and Alcantara scored high for Saudi Hi-Tech.
Saudi Oger, managed by Mar Basilio and Alex Montemayor won convincingly over their rivals Hanco Maintenance of Edgar Ainza and Douglas Brown (77-69). In the other games; Friday Club, led by Raul David lost to Tokyo Games of Tony Sobrepena (98-86).
Pablo Vizcayno, Sendayen, Tacaban, Lacuata and Buhay made it for Tokyo Games. Westin Plaza cagers led by John Gatchalian and Pordan won their first game at the expense of King Fahad General Hospital (Samsung). Officiating was handled by the FBA Officiating Group headed by Dan Gulapa, Benjie Asa, Omeng Labrias, Elmer Balaguer, Zaldy Juaneza, Victor Garcia and Dennis Elmenzo.
