United Motors, Petromin A clinch Juffali Basketball openers

United Motors and Petromin A scored inspiring opening day wins in the E. A. Juffali & Brothers 9th Basketball League at the Juffali Staff Compound basketball court on Khurais road here.
League adviser Cirilo “Loloy” Aranjuez along with Rolly Narciso and Elmer Bacerdo welcomed the participating teams and guests during the opening ceremony. Dante Fabular led the invocations and singing of the Philippine national anthem.
JACO and JIPCO executives Shane Loterring and Ali Bistawi delivered inspirational messages while Adriano Apostol Jr. led the oath of sportsmanship after which the tournament was declared open by Boyet Alquero. Loterring and Narciso then made the ceremonial toss of the ball.
Best teams in uniform winners were Al Jazeera Ford (Inter-Automotive), JACO 2 (Inter-Department) and Al Hokair (Inter-Company) while the “Princess of the Event” Athea Marie Treyes of United Motors emerged the best muse winner.
This 3-category league include 10 teams in the Inter-Automotive category spearheaded by JACO-Mercedes Benz followed by RGTS 1, RGTS 2, Al Jomaih GMC 1, Al Jomaih GMC 2, Al Jazeera Ford, United Motors, BMW, Petromin B, and Al Ayuni. The 5 teams in the Inter-Company category are Ericsson, Al Hokair, Petromin A, Drake & Scull and MODA while JACO 1, JACO 2, Ericsson and JIPCO are the 4 teams entered in the Inter-Department.
Games will be played Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m.
United Motors 72 Al Jazeera Ford 70: Bob Ma, Celso Sison, Reckson Romero, Grimson Treyes and Mao Dimalna carried the load for United Motors team to highlight their debut win over Al Jazeera Ford squad. It was a see-saw battle during the first three quarters with 18-17, 35-36 and 55-53 quarter scores, but United Motors took the full control in the final period to win. Domingo Apuyan, Jonathan Cortel and Ronald Jose top-scored for the Ford team with 20, 15 and 12 points in that order.

Petromin A 102 Al Hokair 92: Petromin A overpowered defending champion Al Hokair of coach Zaldy Datu. The tandem of Cabadonga brothers (Necsan and Necostrato), who finished with 32 and 24 points respectively, in concert with Anthony Intano, Goody Eleazar and Sherlymen Crusis found their rhythms took Petromin to 24-11 and 45-30 leads in the first and second quarters. Petromin A went on to dominate the rest of the game as Al Hokair’s Julian Diono, Kloyd Romera, Caliboso, John Cava and Ron Dizon could only narrow their opponents’ lead to what it was in the end.
The tournament enjoys the generous support of E. A. Juffali & Brothers Company management. The sponsors and supporters include JACO Mercedes Benz through Shane Loterring, JIPCO through Ali Bistawi, Western Union through Nomer Cuartero and Flash Cargo of Arnold Dela Cruz.

Rolly Narciso is this season’s chairman. Narciso is being supported by Adriano Apostol Jr. (vice chairman), Dante Fabular (sports coordinator), Boyet Alquero (technical committee), George Velasco (treasurer/auditor), Bryan Daquera (secretary) Emil Gamboa & Resti Sabote (food & refreshment), Marjun Mendoza (transportation), Mark Valdez & Allan De Guzman (marshalls), Ferdie Balderama, Froilan Resido, Ryan Martin, Christian Esteban, Ramon Jison and Florencio Narisma (committee members).