Manila Zago Open Rated Division champion in JLBT

Manila Zago advertised its coming arrival in the Kingdom in a big way when its basketball team, getting the goods from the deadly trio of Mursie Akad, Tom Basa and Christian Guimpatan, won the championship crown in the centerpiece Open Rated Division of the Jeddah Legends Basketball Tournament (JLBT), beating Lebanese Cedars 74-68 in thrilling Game 3 of the best-of-three series at the Rawdah court on Friday night.
Akad played like the tournament MVP that he is and finished the night with 25 points, three-point specialist Tom Basa added 19 as did Guimpatan, who was forced into a dual role of player-coach in the absence of a head coach, as Manila Zago closed out the well-fought series two games to one and earned the distinction as the first champion of the newly formed JLBT that redefined the way basketball is organized hereabouts. Coach Hassan Zeineddein’s Cedars team won the series opener 86-84 while Manila Zago prevailed in the second game 80-72 to force rubber match.
JLBT, backed by major sponsor Timex watch, has sweetened the cash prize pot for winners with SR8,000 to the champion team, SR5,000 to the first runner-up and 2,000 the second runner-up. Also, gift items galore for the players and spectators for the duration of the tournament and this inaugural event enjoyed mainstream and digital media coverage.
The series decider was the lone match Friday after Anan Iskan had won the Non-Rated crown the previous week over Jeddah Guards.
From the get-go, the game had all the trappings of championship basketball as both teams gave it their best shot.
Though Zago managed to hold its own Loue Ghazi’s team practically struggled for every basket against the bigger and taller Lebanese lineup.
But Manila Zago, a beverage (shake and juice) product popular among Filipinos and soon to open a store at Jeddah International Market, defied the Lebanese defense with perimeter shooting to open a six-point lead in the third quarter, which ended tied at 58 as the Cedars mounted a run of their own.
It was still touch-and-go until Basa and Akad drained three-pointers to help Manila Zago pull away.
A corner three by Akad with under 3 minutes to play gave Manila Zago a 10-point lead at 72-62.
Big Ramzi Kamareddine, who led Cedars with 22 points, hit a three from the left plank and Ely Hajar completed a three-point play to make the game interesting once again 72-68, time down to 30 seconds. After Manila Zago missed on the next play the Lebanese had a chance to further cut the lead but Yoyong Akmad, with his quick hands, stole the ball and fed Guimpatan for a fastbreak layup. The Lebanese missed desperation attempts in the waning seconds and when the final buzzer sounded Manila Zago, led by team owner Loue, broke into a frenzied celebration.
Guard Jad Kabbara scored 16 points and Tarek Al-Eter had 10 points for the Labanese community basketball team.
The awards ceremony for the tournament followed the game. Special guests on the occasion were, among others, consuls general of the Philippine Consulate and Lebanon Consulate, Leo Tito Ausan Jr. and Ziad Atallah, JLBT consultant-adviser Momahed Bayoumi, friend of the Filipino community and recipient of the Presidential Banaag Award, and media persons Sam Tomalondog, GMA-Pinoy TV sales manager; Khadija Malik, head of Private Media Group; Louai Al Hadib (Jeddah Today Chanel), Zaky Shawi, Ciqala advertising company manager and Naser Al Abbady, Fox Art Company manager.
Commissioner Jun Gonzales heads the committee that ran the tournament with Jun Lansang as head of technical committee, Mhel Magpantay secretary-general and Mico sports coordinator. Announcer Willy Cartagena in his own inimitable style did the play-by-play of the games. The Basketball Officials Group (BOG) handled the tournament officiating.
Mythical five teams are as follows:
Non Rated — Best Guards Yoyong Akmad, Malik; Best Forwards Jiboy Dimalik, Gianni; Best Center Ulak; MVP Yoyong Akmad
Open Rated — Best Guards Christian Guimpatan, Tom Basa; Best Forwards Mursie Akad, Joseph Ubalde; Best Center Tarek Al-Eter; MVP Mursie Akad