ALKHOBAR, 14 May 2004 — Al-Garawi Fila nosed out Expat Dribblers 96-95 to secure the right to play Tropang Rizal in the Division B best of 3 championship series. Al-Garawi survived the Expat's late surge and hung on to win the thriller. Rolly Bisda scored a season-high 40 points for Al-Garawi and was also declared Phuket Best Player of the game.
In the Division C1, Al-Wakeel played a half-hearted game but still scored a 2-point come from behind win over Dammam Dome 78-76. The no-bearing game was a test to Victor Metran's team who now play KFMCC Kadiwa in a best of 3 affair. Al-Wakeel's Zabat led with 23 points while playmaker Bong Reyes had 16. For Wilson Brua's Dammam Dome, Ortencio led all scorers with 22 points. Phuket Best Player of the game went to Zabat of Al-Wakeel.
In Division C2 games, Arcan Food closed out the elimination with 4 wins and 1 loss by dumping RGP Consortium 80-59. Arcan Food now plays Saad Falcons in a knockout game with the aim of advancing in a 3-team finale.
Pascua topscored for Arcan Foods with 15 followed by Papag and Libre, scoring 14 and 11 respectively. Pascua was adjudged Phuket Best Player of the Game. The Ernie Mapanao RGP team was led by Rodel Lopez with 17 points in a losing effort.
On the day of upsets, Phuket Restaurant surprised the pundits by blasting the previously unbeaten Alfidasca quintet 94-63. Alfidasca was caught flatfooted and helpless by Phuket's blistering attack led by Jake Dorufa and 3 others who alternately scored on lane penetrations and medium range jumpers from the shaded area. Dorufa racked up 21 points while Calosa, Haldoc and Bugagon added 15, 14 and 13 to pace the winner.
Phuket and Alfidasca will play a sudden death game to try to barge their way into the 3-team championship finals.
In the consolation pool, Bayt Al-Answari made an easy workout on SIPCO Finex team frustrating the Paintmakers and dousing any hopes with a 90-66 win.
Sarmiento was hot, drilling in 34 points and was awarded the Phuket Best Player of the Game. Coca-Cola and Al-Kuhaimi teams also won their game against SADIP and Flour Arabia via forfeiture.
