Muhaidib, UDH, ALJUF, Falcunit and AVK stay unbeaten

United Doctors Hospital with FCBL President Noel Miguel.

JEDDAH: Just like that eliminations reached the one-month mark, with Al Muhaidib in Division B, United Doctors Hospital and ALJUF in Division C1 and Falcunit and AVK Pioneers in Divison C2 all with 2-0 win-loss cards in the 1st Filipino Community Basketball League (FCBL) Basketball Tournament at the Sheraton Jeddah Hotel Sport Complex court.
Muhaidib, with three-point specialist and eventual Best Player Tom Basa at the helm, brought down King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital 87-79 in the third game Friday.
Basa finished the night with 25 points including 5 threes and 10 points in the fourth quarter,Viscayno added 14 and Catubig 12 for Muhaidib. JR Piedra scored 30 points but failed to get support with Payawan the only other player in double figures at 12 as KFAFH went down to its second straight defeat.
UDH, getting 19 points from Barry Nader, who was named Best Player, defeated debuting KFAFH 2 84-76 in the first game Thursday. Val Atienza made 14 points, Buhano added 13 and Regalado 12 for UDH. Payawan scored 24 points for KFAFH 2.
The next day ALJUF (Abdul Latif Jameel United Finance) of team manager Jimmy Abdullah Beltran joined UDH in the lead of Group of Fast Rising Teams by crushing Mohd Baksh 81-63.
Cris Melebo with 12 points grabbed Best Players honors although it was Anthony Villegas that top-scored at ALJUF with 22 points. Paul Taguba added 11 points for ALJUF which ended the first period 24-8 in a fast start.
Falcunit sent Freyssinet to its second consecutive loss in three games with a 91-80 victory in their match Friday in which Bano clinched the Best Player award with 16 points while Falcunit teammates Romero and Trijano each had 20.
Until the Falcunit victory Pioneers had stood alone at 2-0 in the Group of Bae’s Team when they stopped Kalmado 84-74 in the third game Thursday. Navarro with 15 points for Pioneers was Best Player of the game. Pugao had 10 while Cabalu and Orna each added 11 points.
Jeddah Hilton grabbed the lead at 3-1 in C3 (Group of Wannabes) by beating Brawlers 80-71 in the nightcap Friday on a day where Gulf Taleed outplayed Jotun Paints 64-55 in another C3 game to open the proceedings.
At the helm of Jeddah Hilton were Castillo 23 points, Best Player Castro 14 points and Pagunsan 10 points.
Elsewhere, Sharbatly, starring Best Player Orna 21 points, Ali 19 and Sanchez 16, whipped SACO 85-78 in the second game Thursday while Tamimi/Brethren kept Panino’s-Uncle Majid winless in Division B by scoring a 108-98 victory in overtime during Thursday’s nightcap.
Four players ended in double figures for Tamimi namely Cawicaan 20, Noblejas 19, Nader 19 and Pagbilao 17.
Organizers said there will be 9 regular games per week (4 on Thursdays and 5 on Fridays) in order to finish the tournament on schedule.
Tournament sponsors are Soda Sports (PEAK) through Art Montiero, SMDC, Virgin Mobile and Yummy Yummy Restaurant.
Noel Miguel heads the Organizing Committee as president with Robert.
With Miguel and Jose in the Organizing Committee is Tournament Director Jerry Lagrimas. Making up the Technical Committee are: Jess Sales, Zaldy Ramos and Willy Cartagena (play-by-play announcer). Handling the officiating is the Jeddah Officiting Group.
Tournament official photographer is Razcheed Mohammed. The Organizing Committee would also like to express thanks and appreciation to the Sheraton Hotel management.