RIYADH, 28 March 2004 — Odyssey from the North and WEMOWA-Extra from the South became the first teams to qualify for the semifinals in the first Mindanao Overseas Workers Friendship Basketball Tournament for the Arab News Cup after posting convincing victories on Friday at the Sheraton Riyadh Hotel court here.
Odyssey sent Pacific Cargo reeling to their third straight defeat with an almost clinical 80-56 triumph in the second of two evening matches of the day.
WEMOWA-Extra was as ruthlessly efficient in a 78-65 romp over Greenland in morning action where Saco Hardware demolished Team Falcons 73-52 in the first game.
With identical 3-0 win-loss records in their respective groups, Odyssey and Extra advanced into the next stage of the tournament where they are both expected to register a sweep of the group eliminations.
WRJ underscored their credentials as the next semifinalist from the South group with a 76-51 thumping of Al-Omar in the nightcap of the usual quadruplebill in the tournament sponsored by Arab News.
Spitfire Mangotara canned in 16 points, Miraato came through with 14, Ampaso and Cabontalan each had 10 and the Musor brothers Ryan and Akheel each tallied seven as WRJ took control in the second quarter against an Al Omar squad that looked materially inferior with only workhorse S. Kamal, with 16 points, putting in a remarkable performance.
WRJ hit the turn ahead by 13 points at 38-25 and Mangotara, cooling his heels in the bench in the first two quarters, keyed a 14-4 attack to begin the third period that for all intents and purposes buried Al Omar 52-29.
Mangotara started that scoring binge with a trey which Ryan Musor duplicated for that 52-29 count. Miraato was the other player who figured in that particular WRJ offensive sequence.
WRJ notched their second win in three games but they have to hurdle dangerous Rio Grande to get a trouble-free ride into the last four.
Lidasan led Odyssey with 17 points to go with the 14 apiece by Ameril and Tan and 12 by Badawi.
Pacific Cargo put up just a token opposition against the highly skilled Odyssey squad.
For Extra, it was Adam who led the way with 15 points. Mohammad and Abao each made 14 and Misuari added 12.
