RIYADH, 1 August 2003 — Dave Gana scored 31 points to lead Al Badan Landscaping to a 89-80 win over Pacific Cargo Forwarders, managed by Arnold Mendoza and Raul Robles. Al Badan ended the elimination rounds with a clean record thereby gaining the No. 1 position at the ongoing RKH-MHBA Basketball Open Division. Gana along with point guard Rey Gelilio, who delighted the crowd with his fancy moves to find his teammates open for a basket most of the time, led the way.
Towering Jeff Baybay of the Pacific Cargo had to work hard for his points making only 23 baskets against a much taller and defense-minded lineup of Al Badan in the likes of Joel Diego and ex national player of Jordan, M. Salamah.
Pacific Cargo’s Dennis Almario and Cyrus Ruiz had a seemingly off night contributing 12, 7 and 2 points respectively.
In the 3rd quarter, Al Badan started to wear down Pacific Cargo with its running game fueled by Gana, Gelilio, Quinones, Valencia and Diego.
Tata Santander, playing for Pacific Cargo, tried to carry the load together with Inter-hotel’s MVP, Khalid Michichan and Jeff Baybay but Al Badan never looked back and pounded their counterparts to win by 9 points.
Semifinals will begin this coming Friday Aug. 1, 2003 with the top four teams battling on a do-or-die format to gain a slot in the championship round.
In another match between two equally talented ball clubs, Al Bustan RMC prevailed over Khalda squad 101 - 85. Pete Hernando poured in a game high 21 points followed by Eric Villatema with 14 points and Rex Capati with 12 points. The two teams traded baskets and displayed intensive offense and defense from the start to the end of the ballgame. In the 3rd quarter Khalda employed some tactical offense through go to guys; Manigbas, Palmero, Gablino, Alforque and Vitur that put the team closer 58-57, but Manigbas was slapped with a technical foul in the last 2 minutes of the 3rd canto, and Al Bustan’s Hernando took charge of the offense with the help of Salac, Esguerra and Nota to end the 3rd quarter 71-65. Al Bustan never looked back. Al Bustan RMC is currently ranked 3rd following a win against Al Nasser last Friday. Al Nasser couldn’t match the fluidity of offense imposed by Al Bustan, bowing 106-78.
