JEDDAH, 25 January — A very exciting scenario has emerged as Miyabe Abe-PCS survived an endgame onslaught by Mersal Jungleland while Gillette Mach3 ambushed a complacent Jeddah Knigthz with the elimination round of the Safari-Metalwork Friendship Games nearing completion at the Safari Astrodome.
Four Miyabe Abe cagers led by Talastas with 25 points scored in double figures as Tulo, Manaloto and Santos drilled 18, 11 and 10 points respectively for the PCS cargo dealers of team manager Jags Malit and coach Ed Cunanan offsetting the same number of four double-digit Mersal restaurateurs.
Pat Cecilio had 27, Arnel Juan added 16 and the tandem of Alvin Bautista and Winston Sepulchre contributed 12 points apiece for playing Coach Egay Cunanan.
Bill "‘Projo’’ Pantoja topscored for Gillette Mach3 with 25 markers as they bounced back from several ten-point leads in the early going against Jeddah Knigthz who made the mistake of allowing the blademakers to stage a comeback and wrest the momentum in the crucial third and fourth quarters.
Three Saudi Binladen cagers of the Knigthz scored higher than 20 points for coach Loods Celestial and team co-ordinators Freddie Baudi and Edwin Valles.
But they could only squeeze out 13 more points from the rest in contrast to all five Blademakers except Baroso hitting double figures: Almoite (230, Del Rosario (15), Rosales (14) and Tamayo (11) in a show of well-balanced attack for coach Monching Constantino and manager Rene Valle of Gillette Mach3.
With their victory, Miyabe Abe raised their semifinals hope higher on a 4-2 win loss card and another victory in their last elimination round assignment against Jeddah Knightz will seal their entry to the round of four.
Gillette Mach3 is at 4-1 and needs to win just one more game out of its scheduled last two to formalize entry.
Mersal’s loss dropped them to 5-1 but they still occupy the top slot while idle Michelin-PD (4-2) takes on Jeddah Knightz next.
Jeddah Thai (3-3) still have to face powerhouse Gillette in a must-win situation to obtain a 4-3 card which may put them in a tie with any of the teams depending on the outcome of the last four pairings still up ahead.
Jeddah Knightz is dangerously teetering on the brink of elimination with a 2-3 card and faces the daunting task of winning its last two games against Miyabe Abe and Michelin. If it succeeds in doing this gargantuan task, Jeddah Knightz will pull down the two teams in a triple tie of 4-3 cards between them.
A four-team logjam will ensue if Jeddah Thai pulls an upset over Gillette. Furthermore, it will be a 5-team logjam at 4-3 should Gillette also lose to Mersal.
In such a case of multiple ties, the quotient system will be applied to determine the other three teams that will join Mersal who is already out of danger as far as making it to the cross-over semifinals is concerned.
The engrossing Friendship Games is being undertaken by the Safari Basketball Association and its active officers including Rafael A. Jarme, Poncie B. Santos, Leo Pascua, Zaldy Certeza, Ben Ramiscal and Willy Sabangan and enjoys the solid backing of the Jeddah All-Sports Development (JADE).
SCL project manager Abdullah S. Al-Shamasi and Metal Work Co. headed by Engr. Ali Mohammed Badreddine are the principal sponsors. International Food & Consumables Co., exclusive distributor of Snapple Juice, Al-Hussaini & Co., the exclusive distributor of Seiko watches in Saudi Arabia, Basahm Trading (Goody snacks) are the minor sponsors.
Meanwhile, JADE will organize a forthcoming basketball tournament by March 15 and this early several teams including ALJ Hospital under managing director Dr. Riddah Baruni and team coordinator Eli German, Saudi Diyar Consultant, Sete, Saudi Binladi , Sadafco and Key Rent-A-Car have signified their intentions to participate.
Scores: Miyabe Abe (PCS) 85 — Talastas 25, Tulo 18,Manaloto 11, Santos 10, Pinpino 8, Salvador 6, Beldia 3, Manansala 1.
Jungleland 83 — Cecilio 27, Juan 16, Sepulchre 12, Bautista 12, Quinito 9, Panganiban 4,Lizaso 2
Gillette 92 — Pantoja 25, Almoite 23, Del Rosario 15, Rosales 14, Tamayo 11, Baroso 4.
Jeddah Knigthz 79 — Villanueva 25, Samartina 21, Nabus 20, San Diego 8, Acebuque 5.
