JEDDAH, 10 May — Seiko, Alawn Est., Green Farms, BLO Binladen, Westin Jeddah, Jamjoom, Seiko-Al Badr Hotel and NAI-Juffali posted their first victory while SBG-RPD walked away with their straight wins in the ongoing 6th Seiko-13th FBA Independence Cup at the Sheraton Compound Basketball Court in Jeddah.
The tournament, which entered third week, is principally sponsored by Al-Hussaini & Co. (distributor of Seiko watches in Saudi Arabia) through Abdul Rahman Al-Hussaini and ably supported by Al-Rabie Saudi Dairy Co. Ltd. (Pulz Athletics Drink), Sabil Al-Khair Services & Marketing Co. Ltd. (distributor of Completa Coffee Creamer & Rainbow Milk), Metito Arabia Industries, Al Injazat Trading Corporation (NIVEA), Sigma Paints, Royal Brunei, Giordano Fashions, Jizan Marad (Panther), Bugshan Est., SkyFreigfht Forwarders, Internet@Kape, Calson Management Services, Camel Cargoes, Al Amoudi Cargo, PNB-RCBC ANB Telemoney, Pepsi Cola Bugshan, Kwality Ice Cream, Reebok Shoes and Sports world Sportswear.
Meanwhile, last Thursday’s games resulted to the following: Marhaba Supermarket led by Gary Rondilla and Dennis Rocamora vowed to the luckier team of Alwan Est. headed by Omeng Labrias and Bong Lingad (94-91) in a very exciting game that tied for 32 times, the last one at 87-87 all. It was a hardly earned victory for the boys of Kaswara Al-Khateb and this was made possible via the untiring efforts of Lingad, Ronquillo and Aquino. BLO Binladen of Taimor Malek and Lody Celestial won over the veteran TFC team spearheaded by AJ Marcelino who played well despite the absence of their mentor Nonoy Velo but to no avail due to the better performance of BLO Binladen cagers. Final score was 79-71. Nabus, Ronquillo, Banico and Cabilen top scored for their team. On the other hand, Consignado, Ducha and Marcelino did well for TFC. Watani (Green Farms) of Sammy Lomboy won handily over Lays (Saudi Snack Foods) of Chris Rimorin and Larry Dominguez (89-75). Lays team played without their reinforced players (Walid & Abbas) in the first 25 minutes while Abril Mabarit, Almoite and Rongavilla took advantage of the situation and outsmarted the elder Jun Mabarit, spitfire Jamahali and Neri Lacuata. The presence of the Egyptian player Osama (from Pepsi Cola) was not felt due to the deep bench of Watani (Green Farms). He was fielded in only for a few minutes and was not able to score. Westin Jeddah posted their first victory via the dynamic duo of the versatile player John Gatchalian and the sweet shooting ability of Fordan in the Inter-Company Bona fide (Group A) at the expense of Saudi Oger Co. Ltd. managed by Mario Basilio and mentored by Alex Montemayor (96-91) other teams in the group are Castrol-Hyundai, El Khereiji, NAI-Juffali and Seiko-Al Badr Hotel. It was an uphill battle for the cagers of Westin Jeddah. The game was tied for 36 times and the half time score was 40-35 in favor of Saudi Oger, but in the ensuing play, the triumvirate of Gatchalian, Fordan and Fuentebella blasted in the remaining crucial moments of the game and toppled the Alvin Serrano led Saudi Oger team.
Friday encounters resulted to the third straight win of SBG-RPD of Anwar Hafez and Fhel Manese against the Tetra Pak makers of Jess Belardo and Ronnie Morano (81-61). Manarang, Reda and Monteza were instrumental to the victory of SBG-RPD while Morales, Bataller, Escosura and Estanislao played well with the losing team. Newcomer team Barangay Jamjoom ’96 of Ramon Blanco and coach Roman del Rosario ignited and blended well in the second half of the game to beat Ultra Services of Jingo Sia and Leng Pahati (84-76). The first half was 42-34 in favor of Ultra Services but to no avail. Seiko-Al Badr Hotel team led by the veteran player Dindo Garces redeemed itself when they walloped the team Castrol-Hyundai composed of the members of the champion team at the MFBA Basketball Tournament also in Jeddah only recently. The final score was 87-66 in favor of Seiko-Al Badr. The foursome combination of Garces, Almoite, Eria and Magnaye lambasted the versatile squad of Castrol-Hyundai led by spitfire Nap Solis, Aaron Mayo, Pakie, Bautista and Reyes. NAI-Juffali team composed of the team captain of Jeddah Selection Tata Santander with the support of Alex Vidal, Andy Batayola, Jun Arce, Villanueva, Malicsi, agustin and Maceda nipped the UMEA Warriors squad of the veteran coach James Roxas (79-73) in a ding-dong battle encounter that was also tied for 23 times and the last one was at 73-73 all with only few minutes remaining. The taller guys of UMEA were outsmarted by the fast moving and more experienced players of NAI-Juffali engineered by the multi awarded veteran coach Boy Corsega and managed by Alex Vidal and Rene Mactal.
This three-month long tournament is being played every Thursday and Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Compound Basketball Court, along Heraa St. near Souk Heraa International. Members of the organizing committee are Gil Manese (president), Hernan Huerto (VP & commissioner), Lito Martin (tournament chairman), Brando Hernandez (tournament director), Lando Santelices (operations director) Raymond Caleon Jr., Jimmy Narciso and Robert Parker. Referees: Bengie Asa, Atoy Anico, Jing Abalos, Danny Ramos, Bobby Dagdag , Danny Gulapa, Joven & Romy Divinagracia.
