JEDDAH, 30 November — Al-Tazaj Fakieh won the cockfight against Kentucky Fried Chicken while GulfMaid Disers group almost let victory slip their hands but kept their composure when it mattered most to shatter MODA Defenders in overtime, 90-87, as exhilarating and breathtaking OFBL Friday Sunriser games kept on reeling at the squeaky playing floor of the Saudi Tel Gym.
Al-Tazaj Fakieh responded well to the lusty cheers of their supporters as playing coach AllanBeltran maximized his contribution to the team off the playing floor with deft substitutions and squeezing out the best from his stable of gutsy players, Viscayno, Perez, Tizon, and Carillo as they neutralized the inside plays of Kentucky’s tall men Sapnu and Clemente surviving the onslaught of streak-shooter Fernando who was the lone hot gunman for Kentucky in the homestretch.
Singer-songwriter Rolly Amaranto graced the opening ceremony and entertained the full-packed crowd with a song lifted from his Stallions released album “Awit Abroad” and handed out CDs to best uniform winners: Al-Tazaj Fakieh in Group A and SPS- Kodak in Group B and best muse Dang Samia as well as the best players of the games.
GulfMaid point guard Mercado hit a short right-jumper with five seconds remaining tying the score 85-all and in the ensuing play MODA Defenders were called for inbound violation. GulfMaid arranged for a final stab at the basket but a turnaround shot by Zaldy Mohammad at the sound of the buzzer yanked strongly out of the rim.
Momentarily coach Rene Valle’s Disers seemed headed for an easy win leading 75-67 inside the three minute frame in the fourth but in just a 30-second span MODA’s Mangune hit eight points in succession, two treys and a converted fastbreak off a steal to forge the first deadlock of the ball game, 75-75, at the 2:30 mark.
Luat hit a three-pointer for MODA’s first taste of the lead 78-75 but a split by Mercado and a 100 percent clip on the line by Romy Tamayo tied the game at 1:24. The Defenders’ towering Moneim scored from pointblank to make it 80-78 before Mercado’s bailout shot.
Mercado’s heroics extended up to the extra period hitting the go-ahead basket 88-87 and then came up with a crucial steal and converted a pair of free throws off the 5th foul of Nanquil before a Gascon split with 8 ticks remaining sealed the Disers’ victory.
Jeddah Friends (Ericsson) relied on the hardworking Saudi cager Abbas who despite observing the Ramadan fast, playing the entire game without the benefit of food or water still hit 22 points and shot-blocked opponents in menacing fashion to turn back the challenge of host Saudi Tel, 89-81. Egos topscored for the winners while Marlo Reyes led the losers with 21.
In other games, Al-Yanabie grilled the Cardinals, 73-64, as Castillo pumped 27 points for the advertisers. Magpayo contributed 13 while Roberto and Limon had 12 each. The Cardinals were led by Federico Garcia (18), Lito Propeta (16) and Gabriel Alino (12).Brutos edged SPS-Kodak, 90-88 in a nip-and-tuck endgame affair.
Officers of the Overseas Filipino Basketball Association headed by Dennis Eco (chairman), and Salvador “Boy” Teves (vice-chairman), Lino Yamson (commissioner), Vener Torres (finance director), Edd R. Reyta (secretary), F. Rocky Tadili (PRO-Sportswriter) graced the lively opening ceremony along with the newly-organized Saudi Tel Basketball Association (STBA) officials: tournament director Rod Samson, Luis Austria (director of operations), Marlo Reyes (tournament coordinator) and the technical committee composed of Benny Fabros, Alfred Yao, Eric Calma, Lory Bello and Charlie Blancaflor.
This OFBL basketball offering backed by the Jeddah All-Sports Development (JADE)-Saudi Tel chapter represented by external VP D. Eco and public relations officer S. Teves. International Food & Consumables Goods, the distributor of Snapple Juice drinks all throughout the Kingdom sponsors this tournament represented by Mr. Bilal Antar and Hembert de Castro.
