Ghadeer Lanao Lakers crush Avengers in LBC Liga Pinoy

Avengers, a Syrian select team, got their baptism of fire in competitive basketball Filipino style as they went down in heavy defeat against Al Ghadeer Al Arabia 110-62 Friday in the 1st LBC-Liga Pinoy Basketball Tournament that entered its fifth week at Ahmad Khaki Sports Complex (Orca) basketball court on Tahlia Street here.
Encouraged by the exhibition game victory against King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital (KFAFH), Avengers requested to be among the big boys of the tournament and Friday’s game in the Open Rated Division took them completely by surprise.
And the scoreline suggested they could still improve in their first foray in organized basketball.
Enjoying a good shooting night Ghadeer Lanao Lakers rampaged to a 33-15 lead and were never threatened on the way to their first win in two games.
Diego Domalogdog top-scored for Ghadeer with 20 points, Jorge Pascual added 20 and Barry Nader contributed 10 points. Jassumah led the Avengers with 25 points.
Baloloy Rojo and Nafi Abubakar made the big plays in the stretch as Sibuconians defeated Promptness 78-62 for their third straight victory.
A Rojo steal led to an Abubakar basket that eased the pressure off Sibuconians 66-56 with 3:20 to play. Abubakar, named best player of the game, then hit a free throw for 67-56, effectively sewing the game up for Sibuconians.
Abubakar finished with 15 points while the reliable Tutuan added 11 for Sibuconians. Veteran guard Teddy Jamahali had a topscoring 20 points for Promptness.
Jeddah Eagles picked up their first win in two games beating Nobel 74-64 in the third game Thursday with Kibsi leading the charge with 36 points as the best player of the game.
Twitter Marogong won a close game against BRF Sadia 78-77 while Bacolod Kalawi downed Red Sea Kings 96-80 in the other games Thursday.
Best Player Cervantes, Saraos and Junaid paced Marogong with 15, 14 and 13 points respectively.
In the Inter-Toyota Division, Barangay Mega Al Safa and Mega Al Jawhara continued to set the pace in Pool A at 2-0 following victories over Al Khumra NPD 71-41 and Head Office 80-68 at the weekend.
Mega Center Jeddah evened its card at 1-1 with a 77-74 triumph over ALJ Rehab ACCL in Pool A while JACS blasted Lexus 64-43 in a Pool B game Friday.
LBC Express Inc. is the major sponsor of the tournament. Bryan Javier, LBC-KSA marketing specialist, helped facilitate the sponsorship.
The minor sponsors are Toyota, Mobily Globe, CEO & X Perfume of Rannie Basanta, Samsung through Muhaid Osman, promotion and development manager, Alicafé and Dole of Multibrands Al Ghadeer Al Arabia of Sheikh Jamal.
The BRG (Basketball Referees Group) of Lito Dela Cruz is in charge of the tournament officiating.