JEDDAH, 10 May — In a cockfight that was so utterly friendly and breezy as summer wind, Al-Tazaj showed that it’s a strong team to reckon with pounding Nando’s Restaurant, 92-51, to march into their fourth win in as many starts and install themselves as title-favorites. Fruto-Danube strung up three wins already including a 70-68 victory over Saudi British Bank even as Dynarabia Fire Rescue rediscovered their winning form reaching the half-way bend of the elimination round in the 2nd Arrow Marketing-3rd SCBA basketball tournament here.
Arrow Food Distribution Company headed by the Sioufi brothers, Ellie (General Manager) and Georges (Business Development Manager) principally sponsors the 3rd Saudi Companies Basketball Association cagefest.
The league recently finished the inter-school division with Prince Lu-Thamer International School ending up as champions just in time for the opening of another school year.
AFDC is the exclusive distributor of Fruto Juice Drinks ably represented by AFDC deputy general manager Samir Bouari, BiC products division manager Ayman Mahmoud, Regal Picon product manager Syed Mohammed Noorie, and Prince Lu biscuits product manager & AFDC Western Region Manger Matthew Makaraem. Also sponsoring the prestigious indoor basketball tournament are Swatch Watch (Omar Sagafi & Louie Basalamah), House of Donuts, Pringles, Snickers, Thamarat, U-Right
Al-Tazaj, which propelled into basketball limelight by copping the championship trophy in the OFBL Sunriser Games in the first quarter of the year, seems bent on building up a dynasty with acquisitions of caliber players to boost their lineup. Coach Tom Forte and assistant coach Al Mar have seen to it that key players like Pablo Vizcayno, Chris Tacaban, Erick Encila, Rene Carillo, Tizon and Romano will have able relievers. Jeovanni Yengco, Leonardo, Bulaklak and Acebedo are all fitting perfectly into the spring chicken connoisseurs.
They jumpstarted into a 25-6 lead taking advantage of a depleted Nando’s restaurant lineup who despite getting waylaid by a massive 41-point in the end, played basketball like its gonna be — for fun and recreation.
But that’s not what happened in Dynarabia’s 85-77 triumph over the King Khalid National Guard Hospital team where the very close and highly exciting game turned ugly at the 2:21 mark of the third quarter. Atteyah Al-Lehyani’s Dynarabia team was holding on to a 52-50 lead when the fire rescuers’ Art Oliva and KKNGH Guardians’ Camacho almost engaged in fisticuffs.
Both were ejected and the game ended up beautifully as Ed Marquez of Dynarabia and Norman Huerto tried their best to uplift their teams. Dynarabia proved to have the steadier hands at the free throw line to decide the outcome as both teams went into early penalty in the fourth period. Hurco topscored for Dynarabia with 26 points while Huerto had another prolific night with 29 points for KKNGH.
The 29- year old Norman, son of FBA Commisioner Hernan Huerto showed a big fighting heart even in their losing game against Swatch Watch in the open rated division where he scored 28 points for Aru Abe managed by Bert Nulud of Calsons.
Swatch Watch welcomed the addition of high school standout F. Shadi who delivered 11 points for the winners despite getting limited playing time from head coach Talat S. Alam. Darwin Domingo and Timpug scored 16 points apiece for coach Boni Paule’s Aru Abe hurt by the absence of Pineda, Battarao and Esguerra. Waleed Kattab and Amin Bahhartah scored 2 and 24 points respectively for Swatch.
Bahartah, blossoming into a deadly court-to-court swingman had 25 points as he combined with nifty pointguard "Mr. Hustle’’ Esposa for Saudi British Bank’s 87-68 thrashing of Electro Decor. Esposa scored 23 points mostly on breakaways and daring penetrations. Ric Belarmino led Electro Decor with 27 points and Lazarte backed him up with 16.
