RIYADH: White and Blue teams provided the much needed basketball expertise and court dominance to beat Dark Blue and Red teams respectively during the cross-over semifinal round of the Qanbar Ready Mix 1st Inter-Color Basketball League at the Qanbar Ready Mix staff accommodation basketball court, Nadeem Area, here.

The Batching Plant and Workshops teams’ victory put them in a basketball title showdown via knock-out battle while Red and Dark Blue teams will also play a knock-out game for the third and fourth places respectively.

Powerhouse White squad of Edwin and Lolit Sarmiento maintained the no-loss record until the semis after a victorious battle over Dark Blue 56-51. At the onset, the trio of Danny Bonotan, Willy Ardiza and Randolf Espejon in collaboration with Rundy Quiambao and Vande Zande Bajo went down the fray fully equipped to highlight a 28-22 first half scores. The third quarter scenario saw Dark Blue cagers Hensel Herradura, Dennis Umbay, Bern Burguillos, Gary Baquillas and Anton Bugarin put their best plays and tried to grab the momentum in their favor but were in vein as the Batching Plant boyz continued their good offense and defense to close the quarter with 41-36 scores and joined forces to keep the game going to their advantage.

Workshop Blue team made it to stay active in the race at the expense of Red team in a hairline margin battle 55-54. Both teams started strong but the Truck Mixer Red boyz led the first two quarters with 11-10 and 25-24 scores at the close made possible by the effective teamwork of Jeffrey Magtira, Gerry Elopre, Lito Gonzales, Arjie Gonzales and Eric Punzalan. Blue team’s coach regrouped his ward and banked on shooting expert cagers Dean Budtung, Rex Malongayon and Jun Legarta in a team effort with Arnold Gamo and Kimy Bigno managed to equalize the scores with 40-40 all at the third canto end. With the final slot at stake, Blue cagers could not just watch their defense falling and the exchange of baskets re-opened the door for them to seal the match in their favor.

The league enjoys the support of Qanbar Ready Mix Management represented by Nosair M. Salah, Plant Manager; Mohamad Saleh, QC Engineer and Hassan Salahedin, Maintenance Engineer. Other supporters of this league are Jun’s Catering, Tatak Pinoy, Merex Forwarders, Visayan Cargo, Laguna Lakers Cargo, Metro Star Express, Flash Cargo, Utex Cargo, Globex Express and Arab News.

Edwin Sarmiento chairs the executive committee of the league and is being supported by Vande Zande Bajo, vice chairman; Rundy Quiambao, tournament coordinator; Hensel Herradura, treasurer; Charlie Pineda, secretary and Gerry Elopre PRO. Rachie De Lara is the head of technical committee supported by Senon Bautista, Statistician and Romy Nocidal, play-by-play announcer while the FCBR (Filipino Confederation of Basketball Referees) officiate the entire tournament games.

The Scores:

White: Batching Plant (56) D. Bonotan 18, W. Ardiza 13, R. Espejon 10, R. Quiambao 9, VZ Bajo 4 & A. Garcia 2 Dark Blue - Concrete Pump (51) H. Herradura 14, D. Umbay 14, B. Burguillos 11, G. Baquillas 6, A. Bugarin 5 & R. Ferianiza 1.

Blue: Workshop (55) D. Budtung 20, R. Malongayon 18, J. Legarta 12, A. Gamo 2 & K. Bigno 2 Red - Truck Mixer (54) J. Magtira 18, G. Elopre 14, L. Gonzales 10, A. Gonzales 5, E. Punzalan 4 & B. Mamauag 3.