RIYADH, 20 June 2003 — Elmer Bandal, Joel Payot and Alex Bertes registered outstanding marks in the National Guard Printing Press (NGPP) team’s spreadsheet and offered coach Egay Amores the assurance of being in the semifinal’s magic list in the Filipino Community Basketball League (FCBL), being held every Friday morning at the Eid Contracting Compound, Exit 12 Riyadh.
Elmer Bandal had 42 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals, Joel Payot had 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals while Alex Bertes recorded 8 points, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks and steal/assist apiece. There was a slow phase of the game and the first deadlock was recorded at 15-all during the last seconds of the first quarter whilst Elmer Bandal beat the buzzer with a conversion closing this canto with 20-15 in NGPP’s favor.
Payot and Nelson Corollo assisted Bandal in the scoring spree while Bertes continued to make points leaving Storms’ Jay Payumo, Grimson Treves and Abet Rivera helpless in their bid to draw closer to their opponents as the second canto ended 42-24 in NGPP favor. The Storms capitalized on free throws by Grimson Treves to narrow the lead to 7 with Paul Dacanay coming in with a rainbow and, a solo lay up by Jay Payumo almost evened their scores. The battle ended with the Printing Press boyz taking the driver’s seat with a 16 points spread, 89-73.
Coach Mac Narona’s KKIA Jets headed by Ador Aguinaldo, Allain Catalan, Roy Fernandez, Michael Constantino and Orr Dilao once again showed quality basketball during their 10-point margin triumph over the Seder team of Coach Edwin Iraola. Robert Singue of the Seder team sliced the middle for the first field goal of the game but KKIA emerged on top 23-7 with the Jun Gantan and Mike Constantino tandem outshooting Julius Morales and Robert Singue. Seder came back with Apeng Mallari converting and back-to-back baskets from Singue, but still the 15-point deficit stood. Morales missed an easy undergoal stab at the start of the third quarter but got a fallout shot. Baskets by Rod Paraiso brought Seder close with the score at 33-41 before Jess Ritualo scored on a jumper.
Morales, meanwhile, was looking for his touch as ace cagers Mike Constantino, Jun Gantan, Ador Aguinaldo, Allain Catalan, and Richard Hadlocon continued to spark and maintain a double digit advantage. Singue scored a rainbow to cut the lead but that was not enough to reverse the momentum in their favor closing the match at 56-46 in the Jets favor. The ballfest gets generous support from its sponsor Black Stallion, the sole distributor of Cali Drinks through Ronniel Navarro and Louie Banaga.
