JEDDAH, 11 January — PD-Michelin continued its winning ways scoring its third straight victory at the Safari Astrodome by toppling Budget Universal Car Rental, 90-73, and sustained their late surge toward the close of elimination round even as Gillette Mach3 snapped Miyabe Abe’s winning streak at two, 79-73, in the Friendship Games at Safari Astrodome.
SCL project manager Abdullah Shamasi and Metal Work Company are the principal sponsors of the Friendship Games organized by the Safari Basketball Association. Snapple juice drinks, Seiko watch and Goody (Basahm Trading) are the minor sponsors. Individual sponsors include Ali M. Badreddine of Metal Work Co., Chris Bain of the International Airports Projects, Ben Ramiscal and Ed la Torre.
Michelin paraded a new point guard Jay Sipat who quarter backed brilliantly for the wheel makers while Gillette Mach3, which has a depleted lineup a week ago, showed up with notable reinforcements to stave off the challenge of Miyabe Abe.
The string of success for PD-Michelin comes in the wake of the team’s improving behavior on and off the court. The players are jelling as a cohesive unit with Roel Cabilen still the main cog in offense. New mainstays Allan Zorilla and Sicat have fitted perfectly almost overnight.
Eugene Santos, Romy Quito and Lito Taclay deliver the goods at crunch time and even seldom-used Manny Mercado have joined the scoring fray.
Team managers Boggs Cortez, Alex Roca and head coach Ato Gomez had altogether mellowed, whereas they would readily contest every perceived unpalatable whistle from the referees before, now outburst and irksome reaction seldom emanate from their bench.
In their game against the car renters, PD-Michelin was dominant from the start as Sipat drilled in 14 points and 8 assists outsmarting rival point guard Perez of Budget at both ends of the court.
Cabilen ran amuck with 24 points while Budget’s defensive specialist Philip Eustaquio elected to ride the bench till the fourth frame so as to provide lengthened playing time to his wards.
"Sacrifice, " one or another might say, "it’s not all the winning that counts but allowing everyone in the team to play."
But for Gillette Mach 3 on the other hand, after winning the inter-commercial KAIA Rim Open at the same court a month ago relegating Giant Superstores (Butcher) to runner-up status, this time they are dead bent to duplicate that feat in the Friendship Games as Monching Constantino and team managers Rene Valle and Sammy Lumboy are seen maximizing the depth of the 16-man, twelve on court-rotation ground rule. Silent operator Bill Pantoja is reinserted back into their fold and gangling six-footer Torres is an awesome fixture at the paint, the duo together with the exciting Leo Almoite form the most dreaded frontline trio in the Friendship Games.
Almoite and Pantoja scored 27 and 23 for a combined 50-point effort as the Blademakers used a crippling third quarter burst against Miyabe Abe whose bench remained the same after nearly all the other teams have upgraded their arsenals. Torres scored only six points but was a monster inside the lane collecting 17 boards.
Idle JungleLand Mersal leads the tournament with an immaculate 5-0 loss and is assured of a semifinals berth even if it loses its two remaining games against Jags Malit and coach Ed Cunanan’s Miyabe Abe and Gillette respectively.
Strong contenders for the other three semifinals slots are Gillette Mach3, which has a 3-1 card, Michelin-PD (4-2) and Miyabe Abe 3-2.
The most ironic twist is JungleLand’s surprising emergence to the top despite scant support or none at all from the Mersal management.
The youthful Maroons who ended up third place last year and are still donning the same uniform they had last time around have tremendously upgraded their brand of basketball — clean and wholesome.
Credit that to the likes of undergoal shuffler Wilson Sepulchre and the tenacious Arnel Juan teaming up beautifully with upcoming swing man Alvin Bautista whose occasional three-pointers ease out the clog for twin towers Pat Cecilio and Junjay Quinito to operate effectively inside.Fresh legs and abundant hustle are provided off the bench by Frederick Suarez, playing coach Egay Cunanan, Alvarez, and Lisazo who can run rings around mature and very physical opponents.
Collectively, pure hustle and hard work is their main staple and most importantly, the Maroons play clean amidst the haughty and shrewd pedigree of today’s basketball teams to debunk the age old-myth that in a highly-physical sport like basketball, good guys finish last.
