ALKHOBAR, 30 April 2004 — Tropang Rizal took sole possession of the No. 1 spot in Group B beating the Expat Dribblers of Jubail 98-88 in the ongoing 4th OFWC-EP Open Invitational Basketball Tournament at Al-Nahda Sports Complex in Dammam.
Lefty Nonoy Sta Ana scored 30 points as he and Bong Garcia kept the Expat Dribblers at bay. Garcia added 21 points with Art Palima contributing 16 to lead Tropang Rizal to its 2nd consecutive win. Expat Dribblers were led by Fahad Al-Rahdi and Louie Materiano scoring 25 and 22 points respectively.
In Division C1, KFMMC-Kadiwa outplayed the struggling Novo Ecijanos hammering the Art Farnes' boys 105-85 to join Al-Wakeel Aluminum in the lead with a 4-1 win-loss slate. KFMMC-Kadiwa Team Manager Yolly Zoleta-Galang was all smiles after her wards won convincingly. MVP candidate Isnoor Manabilang was unstoppable with 35 points and 7 assists.
In Division C2, Al-Saffar edged out the favorite KFMMC squad with a 99-95 overtime win. With the game on the line, the 5-foot 5 Quintos let fly a triple that swished the net, silencing the pro-KFMMC crowd. Quintos' three-pointer with 3 seconds left tied the score at 85.
The 5-minute extension saw the Qatif-based quintet scoring 6 unanswered points after KFMMC star player Richard Aenlle left the court briefly due to leg cramps. Al-Saffar claimed its 3rd win in 5 games.
In other action, Mazda remained undefeated putting away the undermanned Bayt Al-Ansari 102-77. Bayt were playing without their key players. Richmond Ocado ignited a blistering run that saw Mazda pulling away by as much as 25 points at the start of the 4th quarter. Ocado led all scorers with 26 points followed by playmaker Reynan with 21 and 3 other players scoring in double figures.
Alfidasca also remained undefeated as it pulled off a surprise 90-86 win over crowd-favorite Steel Techniques to fortify its hold on the No. 1 spot in Group C2.
Roy Benedicto erupted for 20 points to pace the winning Dammam-base squad. Steel Techniques were led by Hernandez and Soliano pouring in 26 and 20 points respectively.
Phuket Restaurant recorded another win, besting the undermanned Fluor Arabia 85-76. Jake Dorufa waxed hot scoring 32 points, 10 in the 4th quarter earning him the Phuket Best Player of the game. Phuket Manager Kwangchai was euphoric after his team's 3rd win in 4 games taking the No. 2 spot in the division. Ronnie Ferolino topscored for Fluor with 28 points in a losing effort.
Finally, Al-Kuhaimi Metals stymied Sadip in a high scoring ballgame 113-92. Louie dela Cruz, Leo Estayo and Edwin Villegas combined for 74 points to lead their team to its 3rd win in four games.
De La Cruz sizzled with 39 big points en route to being adjudged as Phuket Best Player of the Game. For Sadip, it was a one-man-show for Napoles as he collected 32 points in his team's 3rd loss in a row.
