Egypt Team, meanwhile, had to put its title celebrations on hold after the gallant Semacs squad came back to win Game 2 of their best-of-three series for the Open Rated A Division.

Modern Offset Printer defeated Asas Universal 85-75 in the first game last Friday of the Non-Rated Inter-Company  title playoffs.

The Egypt-Semacs third game and MOP-Asas second game will be played on Thursday along with the exhibition match featuring the FBL All-Star Team A and Team B.

In the first game of the best-of-three championship, IDB pounded WRJ to win by  84-79,  thanks to the steady hands of three-point specialist Kim Ali and  Salagoste, who did his job inside the paint. 

In the second game,  WRJ was keen to get even and led by as much as 26 points in the third quarter only to collapse  in the fourth quarter, as IDB gutted it out for a 77-73 victory that gave the squad the title and ended WRJ coach Rene Valle’s hopes for a championship three-peat.

Pagadian matched IDB’s series sweep, scoring a 113-101 victory in the first game and 114-110 in the second against X-Rulz.

Maulana and Luna were Pagadian’s main men scoring 55 and 43 points in their team’s two games.

A day after being blown away 100-76 by powerhouse Egypt Team on Thursday, Semacs never gave up despite being down by 14 points at one stage in the first half and scored an emotional 85-83 victory that sent the series back to square one.

The crowd roared in unison after Semacs finally took the lead in the final minute and when Joven Batuan hit what proved the winning shot in the lane after receiving a pass from Wallet Garcia.

Veteran Semacs coach Boy Corsega, who had made adjustments on defense, finally heaved a sigh of relief when Egypt failed to score in the last eight seconds of the thrilling contest.

The shifty Garcia scored 18 points in a confident display of court generalship. Aries Macaspac, the other half in Corsega’s 1-2 punch in the guard position, totaled  30 points in the two games.

Zeniddine led all scorers with 22 points but Egypt suffered when its team leader, Fawzi, had to go in and out of the game due to leg cramps.

Both games were well played and to the credit of veteran BOG (Basketball Officiaitng Group) referees Jun Lansang, Wagner Laconico and Rex Villas   the officiating was excellent.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Teng Laguialam is inviting all basketball aficionados to come and watch the games this Thursday.  — With input from Ogie Nucum