Juffali 9th Basketball League set for championship games today

Jipco of Uzman Zahid and Dante Fabular and Al Hokair squad of Zaldy Datu reached the final of their respective categories following victories during the last semifinal action in the E. A. Juffali & Brothers 9th Basketball League at the Juffali Staff Compound basketball court, Khurais road here.
Friday’s championship knockout games feature Jipco against Jaco Mercedes Benz in the Inter-Department category at 2 p.m. Al Ayuni against Al Jomaih 1 in the Inter-Automotive category at 5:30 p.m., and the concluding game of the league will be the match pitting Petromin A against Al Hokair for the Inter-Company category at 7:30 p.m. Also, Zahid Tractor and Ericsson teams face off in a knockout game for 3rd and 4th place in the Inter-Company category at 3:30 p.m.
Jipco prevailed over Jaco 84-72. Donell Umapas, Jerome Tugap and Brian Cadano carried the load for Jipco with 26, 20 and 18 points respectively. Jaco took the first quarter lead by a hairline margin 15-14 but Jipco’s leading cagers in collaboration with Jason Dalangin and Gerry Familara grabbed the momentum to end the second canto 33-32 and stayed in the lead until the final buzzer.
Ely Lisondra had 44 points in Jaco’s losing cause. Jaco, coached by Froilan Resido and managed by Shane Loterring missed the services of ace cager Jhay-R Gragasin in this game.
Hokair advanced after beating Alex Paragoso and Tonton Somera’s Zahid Tractor team 101-93.
Consistent pointmaker Mike Bondoc Calma finished the game with 44 points at the helm of Hokair. Aris Custodio, Richard Asay, Abel Dayrit, Jonathan Villahermosa and Richie Balais helped Zahid Tractor to a 25-24 lead.
Calma, in a team effort with Michael Calaboso, John Cava, Ron Pille and Norman Canas had Hokair taking a 19-point advantage at the turn 58-39. The Tractor boys had a chance to get this win after narrowing the deficit by a hairline at the close of the third period 71-70 but determined Hokair cagers applied good defense to preserve the victory.
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.
The scores:
Jipco (84) D. Umapas 26, J. Tugap 20, B. Cadano 18, J. Dalangin 10, G. Familara 6, J. Burgos 2, M. Mendoza 2
Jaco Mercedes Benz (72) E. Lisondra 44, B. Razon 7, F. Nalagon 6, M. Naguit 6, O. Calimlim 4, R. Sabote 3, E. Gamboa 2

Al Hokair (101) M. Calma 44, M. Caliboso 16, J. Cava 15, R. Pille 11, N. Canas 10, J. Diono 5
Zahid Tractor (93) A. Custodio 24, R. Asay 23, A. Dayrit 22, J. Villahermosa 22, R. Balais 2