RIYADH, 17 May — With a lot more to deliver and show their respective teams their real brand of basketball, Eric Gamil and Bong Oraa of the Saudi Lighting team, and towering Dennis Almario, a freshly acquired cager of the Cotabato Hunter team highlighted impressive records in the tournament’s spreadsheet during the 6th week action of the Jeraisy Group of Companies First Open Inter-Company Basketball League at the Jeraisy Staff Compound Basketball Court, Exit 7 — Riyadh every Thursday and Friday.
The Saudi Lighting team easily finished the first quarter in their favor at 23-10 through the offensive play efforts of Bong Oraa, Muhammad Fahd, Osman Bernawe and pointers Eric Gamil and Larry Silverio.
But not during the second canto where Dunkin Donuts leading cagers Renato San Diego, Dick Policarpio, and Ronald Solis toned down the lead enjoyed by SLC by shooting at all corners through their good defense and fast break plays resulting to a three-point margin at the second quarter’s end.
A triple shot by Francis Telan of the Donuts team registered the first deadlock of the ballgame with the second courtesy of Ronald Solis, but the lead widened at 14 points at the end of third quarter — the product of the good defense played by the SLC cagers. The Saudi Lighting team used the time and pressed the ball strategy during the final canto to protect their lead and successfully recorded their 3-0 win-loss record with 91-82 final score at the buzzer end.
The next action featured undefeated Meed Pulz team with only seven cagers present facing the Cotabato Hunter team cagers fresh from their untoward loss in their previous outing. As early as the first quarter, the Hunter team advanced with 17 points lead as Peter Hernando and Jeffrey Salac shooting from all corners ably assisted by sweet shooting cager Dennis Magbanua with Dennis Almario and Aries Palmero giving their much needed share. On the other hand, Leo Nebres, Edward Abueg, and Paul Reyes tried their very best to fill-in the vacuum left by their colleagues as Ed Manansala failed to convert many baskets and the expectators missed his favorite reverse lay-up actions.
Cotabato cagers widened their lead during the second quarter at 26 points as Jeffrey Salac continuously showed his expertise in penetration drives and fast breaks. Meed’s objective of maintaining a no-loss record failed as the match ended with 42 points margin of the Cotabato Hunter team, 103-61.
Animated by a fresh win in a recent encounter, the Manila Plaza team of mentors Ghasan Attiya and Roger Bajenting went down the prey equipped with powerful tools on hand in a match with the IPSR team of coach Kit Umali. Coach Armel Trambulo at all times reminded his squad to treat all their games with seriousness as time will come they will need every single point in the final assessment of each team.
Coach Kit Umali started banking on the abilities of youth cagers Christer Umali, Mark Agahan, Kester Trinidad along with Jojo Flores and Gary Serapio, but could hardly find the proper combination to match his opponents moves as his defense cagers came during the latter part of the first quarter.
The Manila Plaza team led by Gannie Baldomero, Jun Soriano, Elmer Cano, Ibno Sanders and Ding Natanuan competently backed by Zandro Herrera, Erwin Dela Cruz, Jun Reyes, and Joe Parungao showed their eagerness to win this match, which was forced to stop due to the bad weather where the score was registered at 67-33 (34 points lead by the Manila Plaza), with 1.51 time remaining in the third quarter. Jhun Farnal vowed to deliver his expertise to the fullest in the remaining games of the Manila Plaza team.
The staging of the Jeraisy Group of Companies First Open Inter-Company Basketball League will not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors Batelco Jeraisy, Ltd. through Rashid Al-Snan — Executive Director, Pacific Cargo through Edmar Vasquez, Top Cargo through Abdul Yamin Ismail, The Filipino Channel (TFC) through Joel Magpantay, Pinoy Supermarket (located in Batha area) through Joseph Magdalena, Metro Star through Romy Ocbena, and Luzviminda Speed Sports (located at Manila Plaza, Batha) through Roger Bajenting, among others.
The Executive Committee of the Jeraisy Group of Companies First Open Inter-Company Basketball League include: Riad Siblini (Overall Chairman), Ed Tamayo (Commissioner), Alvin Mendoza (Committee Chairman), Ton Ton Fajardo, Belmar Indencia, Nelson Cajayon, and Dodie Tapac.
The scores:
Saudi Lighting Co. (91) — Gamil Eric 24, Silverio Larry 16, Continado Genie 15, Fahd Muhammad 13, Oraa Bong 11, Ali Ahdel 4, Bernawe Osman 4, and Villalobos Allan 4 beat Dunkin Donut (82) — San Diego Renato 24, Solis Ronald 21, Policarpio Dick 21, Telan Francis 5, Galang Allan 4, Carlos Noel 2, De Guzman Marlon 2, Taquinod Rey 2, and Gozim Alfon 1. Referees: Boyet Liboon and Ponar Quillo.
Cotabato Hunter (103) — Hernando Peter 24, Salac Jeffrey 23, Almario Dennis 10, Carulasan Mike 10, Palmero Aries 9, Magbanua Dennis 9, Baruel Mike 7, Heyrol Ibrahim 4, Castillo Nelson 3, Bueta Vic 2, and Bravo Dong 2 beat Meed Pulz (61) — Nebres Leo 16, Abueg Edward 13, Reyes Paul 13, Manansala Ed 12, Basilio Al 4, and Portuguez Tom 3. Referees: Ernie Dela Cruz and Muhammad Villamena.
