EPBL: Ittefaq Steel Product, Aramco triumph

DAMMAM: Al Ittefaq Steel Product Company Corporate team stunned defending champion and sister team Ittefaq Steel Product Company Plant with a 76-61 victory that gave the Corporate a piece of second place in the Tuwairqi Cup of the Eastern Province Basketball League at Al Ettifaq gymnasium here.
Brothers Mark and Rey Millena tossed in 25 and 24 points respectively and helped stave off several ISPC Plant uprisings anchored on Albert Salado and Jerald Mendoza as Corporate rose to 2-1 behind front runner Metal Recycling Mill Tigers (2-0).
Christopher Tuazon was impressive with the Corporate team with 14 points while Angelo Geroche, Rolando Milan and Don Brizo combined 13 points for the win. Salado and Mendoza scored 18 and 16 points respectively for ISPC Plant.
Meanwhile, in the Premiere League, Saudi Aramco Basketball Club kept its playoff hopes alive with a heart-stopping 95-93 win against ARCC-EEI. Taichen Dickerson pumped in 22 points as the American laden team came back from 11 points deficit down in the 1st quarter, 17-28, to upset the Erectors.
Aramco finished the elimination round with a 2-4 record and may advance to the playoff if National Pipe Company (2-3) lost its last game against the Erectors (3-2) next Friday, due to a superior quotient. Idle Fahd Alireza Engineering Consultants remain on the top of the standings at 4-2.
In the other game, League B leader Arcan team defeated Sharbatly Fruits, 103-91. Issam Kabbani was still undefeated in five games in the Inter-Company A with an 82-62 win against SRACO team. Al Suwaidi Rangers surprised ACBI Tankers, 72-63; Star Taqa won against Arabian Point Eight 91-80; and defending Inter-Company C Champion Alumaco advanced to the next round with a 70-65 win against Al Iman Company.