Team Pilipinas, Awdah JBL Group B and Group C champions

Team Pilipinas of Ermie Samson crushed GIG Jeddah 95-69 in Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series and claimed the Inter-Company Group B title in the JBL basketball tournament at the Bin Mahfouz court here.
Team Pilipinas showed good teamwork in the final quarter with GIG Jeddah trying hard to contain the enemy offense to no avail. Team Pilipinas looked for the open man for a higher percentage basket. Dela Cruz and Monding had 25 points apiece for Team Pilipinas and were adjudged as the Giordano best players of the game while Ernie Cabawatan top-scored with 17 points for GIG Jeddah.
This tournament is sponsored by Giordano Fashions (Ahmedullah), ABS-CBN — The Filipino Channel, Saudi Signs (Sam Adora), Al Haddaf Sportswear (Bayoumi), NCB Quick Pay (Jayson Mojica) and Arab News.
Awdah of Rhey Magat defeated Carrefour 77-54 in Game 2 to also sweep the best-of-three series for Group C champioship.
Awdah applied trapping defense in a repeat of its Game 1 strategy. Carrefour managed to keep Awdah at bay but then lost steam in the fourth quarter. Carrefour tried hard but Awdah never looked back and continue to attack Carrefour defense. Mendoza chipped in 22 points for Awdah and was adjudged as the NCB Quick Pay best player of the game while Cutamora had 21 points for Carrefour.
The awardees in the Inter-Company Division Group B are: Team Pilipinas champion, GIG Jeddah 1st runner-up, ALJ Toyota Quality Services 2nd runner-up and TRCIJ 3rd runner-up; mythical five selection — Arwin Ochavillo (TRCIJ), Gani Taboa (ALJ Leasing), Roland Dela (Team Pilipinas), Edward Ballinan (GIG Jeddah) and Dennis Sernal (Team Pilipinas); Edz General (Team Pilipinas) Best Coach and John Monding (Team Pilipinas) Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Inter-Company Division Group C awardees: Awdah champion, Carrefour 1st runner-up; mythical five selection — Mateo (Carrefour), Cutamora (Carrefour), Artemio Toledo (Awdah), Gerald Deleon (Awdah) and Dondon Mendoza (Awdah); Elmer Molano (Awdah) Best Coach and Erick Natividad (Awdah) Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Meanwhile, in the Group A division, Fuchs One Stop Shop of Gerry Refil and Jovy Abella bounced back from its Game 1 triple overtime loss to Java Tithe to win by 72-69 in the second game.
Fuchs One Stop Shop played its heart out in the dying seconds of the final quarter as Java Tithe continued to attack the defense. Java Tithe missed an important basket to extend the game into overtime. Hero Baual top-scored with 28 points for Fuchs One Stop Shop and was adjudged as the Arab News best player of the game while Navarro led Java Tithe with 16 points. Game 3 will be played this Friday at 8 p.m. followed by the awarding ceremony.