Spicy Fingers Explosive beats Jeddah United

Joseph Ubalde is back in the lineup and Spicy Fingers Explosive delivered on a must-win game situation, beating Jeddah United 77-74 in the centerpiece Inter-Commercial Open Rated Division in the 2nd Nokia-Asha and 35th FBA season basketball tournament at the Sheraton Jeddah Hotel Sport Complex court.
The lanky forward-center Ubalde scored 21 points, court general Boyet Bautista added 18 and Dela Paz hit two big if awkward-looking threes off the bench as Spicy Fingers ousteadied Jeddah United down the stretch of a back-and-forth contest to get the win.
Dela Paz finished with 10 points while playing manager Raymond Matias came through with 13 points while providing muscle inside against the big men of Jeddah United.
The result created a three-way tie at 3-2 among Jeddah United, Spicy Fingers and idle Friendster, and with all of them with a chance to be in the championship match expect a war of attrition in Friday’s doubleheader.
It will be Spicy Fingers against Avengers at 8 p.m. and Jeddah United against Friendster at 9:30 p.m.
The scenario. Spicy Fingers could guarantee their place in the final with a victory although they could still make it even if they lost provided Friendster beat Jeddah United as this would give them the advantage in the resulting two-way tie at 3-3 having beaten Jeddah United two times in the eliminations. Friendster, on the other hand, would benefit from an Avengers win over Spicy granting it loses to United that would result in another Spicy-Friendster tie. Friendster by virtue of its big 94-68 win in the return match with Spicy has the better goal average. Unlike Spicy and Friendster Jeddah United itself alone has control over its fate.
After the first three quarters Spicy, coached by Marlon Aquino, managed to break the United defense by hitting shots from outside.
After baskets by Matias Dela Paz hit the first of his two three-pointers giving Spicy a 60-50 lead after United had taken a 55-53 spread to end the third period.
Another three and a fastbreak basket by Dela Paz gave his team a 4-point lead at 66-62 only for the game to peter out to a deadlock at 69 with 2:12 to play.
Jeddah United would not score until the last 24 seconds while Spicy Fingers found the time and space to finally wiggle out of the tight game.
A travelling violation led to an Ubalde free throw. Ubalde, rejoining his teammates for the first time after his vacation in the Philippines, put back Bautista’s miss from downtown and completed a three-point play when he was fouled by Khiyameh.
Matias rebounded a Jihad miss and made both free three throws to cap a 6-0 tear that effectively settled the issue, 75-69, with 27 ticks left.
Tartousi then scored all three free throws off a foul by Bautista from beyond the arc. Matias hit two more free throws before a field goal by Tartousi, who scored 19 points, settled the final count 77-74.
Ramzi led Hassan Zeinedein’s team with 24 points with the promising 16-year old Mohannad Amir contributing 10 points and Kheir 9.
Elsewhere, Intrepid completed a 9-0 sweep in Inter-Company Bonafide C with victories over AMI Saudi Arabia 83-64 and Jeddah Eagles 73-60 Thursday and Friday for a twice-to-beat edge, a feat matched by Silencer 2 in Inter-Company B with a 7-0 card.
Almabani, a 62-53 winner over Saudi Diyar, was second to Intrepid on 8-1.
In the other Week 15 games, it’s Silencer 1 70 Gharib 51, Ford Al-Jazeera Raptors 74 Inma 61, Veolia Water 92 Saudi Diyar 46, Petromin Express won by default over Al Majal and AMI Saudi Arabia 70 Raptors 35.