RIYADH, 15 February — With strong determination and consistency in all their moves, the Shib Al Jazeera failed to frustrate coach Edwin Sarmiento and expectators in their bid for the title. The early morning action favored them and blocked Luzviminda team’s attempt for game three while closing the curtain in two straight sets of the best-of-three series championship round of the Sita Cargo Services and 8th Contracting Est. 2nd Open Invitational Basketball Tournament at the 8th Contracting Est. Basketball Court, Riyadh.
This 85-81 score win left the Luzviminda team of coach Zandro Herrera (who had saved their best to the last but were in vain), clinched the first runner-up title whilst spirited by the presence of their ever-supportive team manager Roger Bajenting.
The first quarter scene saw the Luzviminda cagers through Jhun Reyes, Jhun Soriano and Elmer Cano dumping a 5-point lead, 9-4 pressing down the Shib Al Jazeera boys in a crucial start. Shib Al Jazeera’s coach called for a time out to break the momentum and at the onset, his cagers rallied up banking on the abilities of lanky Jeff Baybay, Jhun Farnal and Abel Carreon with their desire to recover and made it as Jeff Baybay converted a follow-up under goal shot with 4:32 remaining, thus snatching the lead with a hairline margin in their favor. Amazingly and to the delight of the expectators, Jhun Farnal gallantly netted his dazzling 14 points during this quarter only getting full support from Abel Carreon while closing this canto in their favor, 25-14.
Shib cagers continued to enjoy the momentum during the second quarter with Jeff Baybay, Jhun Farnal, Abel Carreon, Crotty Santos and Junel Baybay contesting on the abilities of Luzviminda’s aces Jhun Reyes, Jhun Soriano, Elmer Cano, Ganie Baldomero, and Dennis Sawit leading the way to a 45-37 score at this quarter’s buzzer end. Luzviminda cagers through their coach’s command applied a running game and man-to-man defense at the start of the third quarter but later slowdown due to foul troubles giving Shib Al Jazeera more penalty conversions trailing to a 57-49 score with 3:51 left. Piloted by Jeff Baybay who finished the match with 26 points, 14 rebounds and 7 blocks, Shib continued their outstanding moves giving no resurrection to their opponent and registered a 69-59 team score at the close of the third canto.
During the final quarter, Roger Bajenting’s squad bravely fought and withstood the pressure while formulating a kind of hard court strategy capitalizing on Jhun Soriano, Jhun Reyes and Dennis Sawit. They almost made it as Dennis Sawit converted a field goal trailing to a closer margin 75-73 with 1:50 time left. With high hopes of coveting this prestigious title, Shib cagers settled down into their strong defensive actions in the remaining time and proved to be effective with Jeff Baybay and Jhun Farnal exchanged much needed shots finally concluding this championship match with 85-81 team score.
Earlier, the BLM team once again proved to be too good to the Tokyo Sixers team in a knockout match for the 2nd and 3rd runner-up posts. This time consistent cager Jill Jusay of BLM emerged in the hard court making a 7-point score in the first quarter giving a brilliant start over the Tokyo Sixers getting the much needed support from veterans Lino Fernandez, Rey Manigbas, and Dennis Almario thus closing this quarter with a 6-point lead 24-18 in their favor.
At the resumption, Tokyo Sixers started to fight back in the early part of the second quarter spearheaded by Dhods Parangalan and Daniel Brizuela who finished the match with 25 and 24 points respectively. In his attempt to cut down the deficit and grab the lead, Brizuela triggered a field goal to mark the lead 27-26 in their favor and even continued to increase the lead as he buried two 3-point shots putting the Sixers ahead by 7 points, 39-32 with 3:51 time left. BLM cagers were quick enough to respond to their goal as Dennis Almario and Jill Jusay (aside from his 3-point shot) managed to register a deadlock 39-39 while closing this canto with 6 points to their advantage. Tokyo Sixers made it during the third quarter through the energetic field conversions of thoroughbred cager Dhods Parangalan with the score registered to 66-65 in their favor.
It was a seesaw battle during the first 8 minutes of the final quarter with both teams protecting their winning prowess. With 1:51 left, BLM’s Jill ‘Hero’ Jusay fired the winning shot to give a 3-point lead getting side to side support from Dennis Almario (who top scored the BLM team with 31 big points), Rey Manigbas (who always demonstrate his maximum level of performance) and Lino Fernandez paving the way to capture the second runner-up title, with the score highlighted as 87-84.
Prior to the commencement of the final match, Sports Commissioner Rene C. Tapang sponsored a 3-pointer rainbow shoot-out (with one minute time limit) participated by three cagers from each team. Jill Jusay of the BLM team received a trophy dominating the rest of the participants with his seven 3-point shot conversions.
The awarding ceremony immediately started after the final championship match. Tournament Sports Commissioner and Committee Chairman awarded trophies and medals to the following awardees: Best team uniform — Tokyo Sixers, Best in 3-point shot — Jojo Flores of the Cash N Carry team, Best Team Manager — Jerry Barba of the Shib Al Jazeera team, Best Team Coach — Edwin Sarmiento of the Shib Al Jazeera team. Tournament’s Mythical Five were Jeff Baybay, Rey Manigbas, Dong Suan, Jhun Soriano and Jhun Reyes (who was also adjudged as the MVP). Tokyo Sixers team brought home the 3rd runner-up trophy, BLM team the 2nd runners-up recognition, Luzviminda team the 1st runner-up award and Shib Al Jazeera team clinched the championship crown.
Tournament officials of the Sita Cargo Services in collaboration with 8th Contracting Est. headed by Rene C. Tapang and Emil Rentar would like to express their sincere thanks and deep appreciation to the sponsors of this tournament spearheaded by Power Horse Energy Drink, all the way through its country manager Hermann Ritz, Ramon ‘Nonoy’ Quema, Jr., and Dick Jacinto, TFC-Riyadh through Antonio Velo, Jr. — Country Manager, Al Bustan Ready Mix through Ramir A. Mariano, Rentar Restaurant, and Luzviminda Speed Sports located at Manila Plaza, Batha Area through the kindness of Roger Bajenting. Equally, the generosity extended by Fikry Younan Andrawis, general manager of 8th Contracting Est. added a great deal to the success of this tournament.
The executive committee of the Sita Cargo Services and 8th Contracting Est. 2nd Open Invitational Basketball Tournament include: Rene C. Tapang — sports commissioner with Emil Rentar as the chairman/treasurer and Sammy Cid as the vice chairman. Other officials are Sandy Rentar, Anthony Rauyana, Ed Tariman, Penn V. Mallen, Melvin Rentar, Rudy Amihan, Lito Mancilla, Ernie Hernandez, and Frank Bate.
The Scores: Shib Al Jazeera (85) — Baybay Jeff 26, Farnal Jhun 26, Carreon Abel 13, Baybay Junel 8, Santos Crotty 8, Barba Gerry 2, and Ladia Dek 2 beat Luzviminda (81) — Reyes Jhun 21, Soriano Jhun 15, Baldomero Ganie 14, Sawit Dennis 10, Cano Elmer 6, Dela Rosa Charlie 6, Azupardo Jhun 6, and Parungao 3.
BLM (87) — Almario Dennis 31, Jusay Jill 24, Fernandez Lino 12, Manigbas Rey 11, Dalisay Jimmy 5, and Bejerano Buboy 4 beat Tokyo Sixers (84) — Parangalan Dhods 25, Brizuela Daniel 24, Ibanez Nestor 17, Tumambing Angel 16, and Agapito Aldwin 2.
