RIYADH, 29 August 2003 — Capati, Hernando and Esguerra scored a total of 52 points and led the Al Bustan team to victory against the Al Amal team, improving to a 2-0 win-loss record in the Saudi Filipino Basketball Association (SFBA) 5th Open invitational basketball league held at the Saptco housing compound. Jun Laxamana’s Al Amal team dominated the first quarter by 4 points and 2 points at the half. Ogaco who had an exceptional performance of the night scored 8 of his 26 points output during the first quarter and sank 4 triple pointers in the game. Manalo chipped in with 16 points, Basilio and Tayag hit 12 points apiece, while Pituc added 10 points.
P. Hernando scored 9 of his 15-point output to help his side take a 2-point lead at the end of the third quarter. Capati, who topscored for Al Bustan scored 13 of his 21 points in the second quarter, but was scoreless in the third quarter. R. Esguerra scored 9 of his 16-point output in the fourth quarter as Al Bustan’s offense shifted from the perimeter to the shaded area. Tough defense enabled Al Bustan to control Al Amal’s offense and gave them a chance to take the lead in the third quarter and win the game by 9 points.
The Greenland team tamed R & A Sport 81-72. Greenland dominated the game from the outset. Pabona, Galivo and Catalan scored a total of 41 points in the game. Greenland led by 13 points in the first quarter and 16 points at the half.
Coach Edwin Sarmiento’s boys managed to come back in the third quarter through the efforts of D. Almario, who scored 10 of his 25-point output in the third quarter to help his side cut the lead to 12 points. But coach Sarmiento imposed a man-to-man defense that enabled surprise newcomer Placino to convert a steal into points. But they were short of men as the defensive Manigbas fouled out early in the fourth quarter.
Greenland managed to get back the momentum and maintained the lead through a good defense in the last 2 minutes of the game, thus earning them victory.
Scores: Al Bustan (99) Capati 21, Esguerra 16, Hernando 15, Gana 9, Carreon 8, Fajardo 8, Salac 6, Fabro 6, Ramos 4, Carreon 3, Pineda 1. Al Amal (90) Ogaco 26, Manalo 16, Basilio 12, Tayag 12, Pituc 10 Lising 4, Lacson 4, Valencia 2, Yalung 2 Dimaun 2.
Greenland (81) Pabona 16, Galivo 15, Catalan 10, Al Buthi 8, Kolaifi 6, Aguinaldo 5, Biugos 3, Al Forque 2 Ayron 1. R&A Sport Ltd. (72) Almario 25, Manigbas10, Placino 7, Buhairi 6, Fernandez 6, Santos 5, Bravo 6, Morales 2, Delos Reyes 2, Natanaun 2.
