RIYADH, 25 April 2004 — Before the talk was about WEMOWA-Extra making the final, now the potential unbeaten title run is all the buzz in the first Mindanao Overseas Workers Friendship Basketball Tournament for the Arab News Cup here.
The WEMOWA-Extra moved within two games of completing an eight-game title sweep with a thrilling 70-62 victory Friday over Odyssey in the second weekend of semifinal play in the groundbreaking tourney that aims to promote unity and camaraderie among the major tribes of the Bangsamoro people in Mindanao.
WRJ Cargo was back in the hunt after a losing start in the Final Four, beating undermanned Rockland 80-70 in the first game.
After taking control in the third quarter, WEMOWA-Extra took the risk of having to field their foul-troubled Big Three back in the game in the closing minutes in a move that paid dividends for their second straight victory in the semis.
Abdulgafur “Jordan” Ibno, got his usual A-game going in the third quarter to topscore for Extra with 17 points, Mohammad added 13 and Misuari 10 as the trio gallantly bailed their team out of trouble despite being saddled by fouls.
Dazzling plays by Ibno, steady performance at the point by Mohammad and efficient rebounding by Misuari had Extra leading by as many as 13 points in the third quarter at 49-36.
Just when Extra, a Tausug team, was making their final push for victory, Maguindanao’s Odyssey squad mounted an Ameril-led comeback that dissolved that big Extra lead and paved the way for an excruciating battle down the wire.
A three-point play by Hayle gave Odyssey a hairline 57-56 lead, and suddenly, Extra were in troubled waters, their key players in the bench due to foul trouble.
The Big Three, however, went back to work and gave Extra back the lead at 63-57, and by the time they (Ibno, Misuari and Mohammad) fouled out in succession the game went Extra’s way.
In the end it was Indasan’s rebounding for Extra and the free throws which Extra made and Odyssey missed that made the difference in the pulsating contest watched by another big crowd at the Sheraton Riyadh Hotel and Towers court.
Rockland hit foul trouble right in the first half and the absence of big man Pundoma and playmaker Boy Bayabao hurt their cause in the tournament sponsored by Arab News.
Rockland, beaten 75-66 by Extra on the first weekend of the semis, went down to their second straight defeat. Ampaso led WRJ with 25 points, Miraato had 20 and Mangotara 13. WRJ was simply the better team on the night in the battle between all-Maranao teams.