RIYADH, 18 July 2007 — A week after the Inter-Department curtain-raiser concluded basketball action returned at the Zahid Tractor court with the start on Thursday of the Zahid Tractor Basketball League (ZTBL) 15th Cup 2007 Inter-Company Bonafide Tournament.
SABB won a thrilling battle with RGTS Team 81-78 in the lone game that tore the wraps off the major tournament organized outside the city center and which has grown through the years as one of the most credible in this side of basketball town.
ZTBL Chairman Armin A. Gonzales presided the simple opening ceremony in which representatives of tournament sponsors attended, among them, Adorlito Rosel of Metrobank Philippines, Tonton de Castro of Utex Cargo and Mr. Bobby of Al Rabie, which distributed refreshments to all players and spectators. Abu Jadayel Co. (Bison) and Almira Magic Cream are the other sponsors of the tournament being supported as usual by the Zahid Tractor & Heavy Machinery Co. Ltd. Central Region.
Gonzales said seven teams have entered including host Zahid Tractor though the field could reach eight with the possible late entry of a team from the National Guard. The teams play single round robin in the eliminations to pick the four semifinalists. The unbeaten No. 1 team after the round robin will have a twice to beat privilege over the No. 4 squad in the crossover semifinals where the second and third qualifiers knock each other out for a berth in the championship. Veteran Lino Fernandez scored 24 points, Abarca and Moveva each had 17 and Ramones added 10 points to help the SABB of playing coach Jun Pacheco score their initial victory.
The SABB-RGTS game was touch and go until the final moments when a turnover by RGTS’s de Jesus settled the outcome.
With SABB ahead by one at 79-78 with 16.6 seconds to play de Jesus bobbled the ball as it hit his foot and went out of bounds while going for a basket. Fernandez then scored on the next play to make it 81-78 and with 4.2 seconds left RGTS were unable to attempt a desperation basket. Seven-foot-one giant Saleem combined with Lamaso, Rubia and Go to give RGTS leads of 10 and 12 points in the first period. Instead of being rattled SABB tightened their game and led 41-39 at the turn. The second half saw RGTS again dominate with de Jesus scoring almost at will and bringing back the driver’s seat to his team at 70-65. RGTS stayed in control until SABB rallied mightily going into the last four minutes. Gonzales expressed his thanks to the whole management and staff of Zahid Tractor & Heavy Machinery Co. Ltd. led by Faraj A. Tarhini (regional manager, CMD) Yousuf Talal Zahid (regional sales manager, CMD), Ghazi M.S. Milyani (regional manager Personnel and Administration) and Abdul Rahman Dmour (property and maintenance manager). He also acknowledged the support of the staff from the Central Region and all other regions.
Games Tomorrow: 6:45 p.m. - Saudi Rocks vs. SABB; 8 p.m. - Al Safi Danone vs. RGTS Team.
Games Friday: 6 p.m. - Saudi Rocks vs. Ford Al Jazirah.
