Diriyah, Wafa clinch Siglakas North basketball titles

Jeffrey Dimalanta and Tyron Lopez were named Most Valuable Players (MVPs) as their teams Diriyah Eagles and Barangay Wafa clinched the championship crowns in the Bukabin-Siglakas International Riyadh North District 7th Conference Basketball Tournament at the Wafa staff compound basketball court on Exit 18 here.
The Eagles defeated defending champions Saudi Telstar for in the Inter-Locale Division title, while Wafa brought down Duhami Cavaliers in the Invitational Division best-of-five championship series.
Fourth Conference champion Diriyah Eagles of coach Jaime Patio Sr., anchored by JR Malit, Jun Patio, Aldrin Villanueva, Marcos Rimada and Edson Tolentino regained the title with a 70-68 Game 4 victory.
Saudi Telstar of Coach Temz Turla featured key cagers Jonathan Macaraeg, Arnel Dela Cruz, Ariel Villareal, Jomar Apongol and Carlo Cardenas. Telstar’s lone win came in the third game, 84-82. The champion team won the series opener 74-71 and Game 2 68-66.
In the Invitational Division title decider Wafa defeated Duhami 86-78 thanks to the tandem of Riyadh ace cagers Jojo Custodio and Sherwin Garcia and Tyron Lopez, Jek-Jek Mercado and Jirek Manlapaz.
Ben Ciabu with his 29 big points, Manny Espino, Bernard Balatbat, Ariel Andaya and Allan Las Pinas gave their best in the final period but fell short in a bid to bring home the crown against the determined Wafa cagers.
Duhami won the first two games of the series, 75-68 and 80-62, but Wafa battled from a 2-0 hole to capture the championship winning the last three games by 88-72, 77-76 and 86-78.
Earlier, Solimania Tigers beat Panda Fearless 78-74 in the Inter-Family division while Panda Cutes downed Solimania Gwapings 52-49 in the Inter-PNK division.
The tournament enjoyed the generous support of Bukabin-Siglakas International Riyadh North District league advisers Martin I. Villafuerte, Jimmy Danan, Willy Vallejo, Tony Mendoza, Rodel Gamboa, Inocensio Gale, Alvin Ocampo and Lito Bucsit; Wafa Company owner and GM Saleh Al Muzaini and WRJ Cargo Forwarders through Roger Garcia.
Ric Cardenas chaired the Bukabin-Siglakas International Riyadh North District tournament committee, with support from Lito Bucsit (president), Andy De Mesa, Jr. (vice-president), the working committee Carlo Cardenas, Arnold Navalta, Lindon Miguel and Fernando Asuegue, medical staff and Wafa compound staff.
The scores:
Game 4 Inter-Locale: Diriyah Eagles (70) E. Tolentino 21, JR Malit 17, J. Patio 10, A. Villanueva 8, M. Rimada 6, E. Carmen 2, A. Manuel 2, E. Barroga 2, J. Padilla 2 Saudi
Telstar (68) J. Macaraeg 18, A. Villareal 17, A. Dela Cruz 11, J. Apongol 12, H. Villano 4, C. Cardenas 3, S. Oracion 3

Game 5 Invitational: Barangay Wafa (86) J. Custodio 19, S. Garcia 19, J. Mercado 12, J. Manlapaz 10, P. Mercado 8, W. Datu 8, T. Lopez 6, R. Dino 4 Duhami Cavaliers (78) B. Ciabu 29, M. Espino 13, B. Balatbat 9, A. Andaya 9, A. Las Pinas 7, C. Basa 5, A. Paras 2, J. Del Campo 2, P. Manalac 2