JEDDAH: The Sadiki Boys of veteran coach Boy Corsega overcame a nine-point deficit in the last three minutes and advantage in height and heft of Kick Downs to pull out a 25-23 victory in the final match on Thursday night of the Panasonic Three-on-three Street Basketball Championship here.
More than 120 teams entered and played over the past 10 days in chase of the top prize of SR10,000. Organized by Publicis Graphics this is the seventh year that the Ramadan tournament has successfully entertained the youth of Jeddah. Panasonic and Burger King, the major sponsors, along with Arriyadiyah , Al Hayat and Cheetos sponsored the event touted as the largest three-on-three basketball tournament in the Kingdom.
The night began with the four top teams, Kick Downs, Saudi Oger, Nadeem’s Ittihad, and Sadiki Boys, playing knockout games for the finals. In the first game, Kick Downs defeated Saudi Oger with strong inside play and advanced to the finals.
Next on the program was a full court exhibition game between Jeddah United and Faisal Park All Stars. Jeddah United took an early lead and ended the first half up by six points. Faisal Park pulled within two points in the second half but two great defensive plays by Marwan Assad and fast breaks by Faris Nadif sealed the victory for Jeddah United 26-18. Up next was last years winner’s Nadeem’s Ittihad against Sadiki Boys.
The battle was on at the half. Sadiki’s JR Villegas hit a three-pointer with no time on the clock to go up 10-7. That didn’t stop Ittihad from going up with four lead changes in the next five minutes. Sadiki pulled out the win, 26-22, with some good foul shooting in the end and entered the finals.
The Saudi national handicapped team put on a show for the crowd by splitting into two teams and playing a full court game for the fans. Panasonic awarded SR5,000 to the winners and SR2,500 to second place.
Nadeem’s Ittihad outmuscled Saudi Oger to capture third place and the SR3,000 prize in the consolation game.
In the final, Kick Downs came on strong with some good shooting from Mohammed Fouzi, who hit two three-pointers and two drives to the basket giving them a 21-12 lead over Sadiki with three minutes left in the game.
At the two-minute mark, Villegas drove and scored. Kick Downs’ Fouzi penetrated and scored for a 23-14 Kick Downs lead. Then the Sadiki Boys took over. Villegas hit a three with 57 seconds left, Amo Yusri added a free throw and a layup on a stolen pass to make it 23-21. With 16 seconds left, Villegas made two free throws to tie the game 23-23. Kick Downs’ Hassan misfired with six seconds left. Fouzi rebounded the ball and Villegas blocked his shot, collected the ball, and hit a desperation shot that went in at the buzzer giving Sadiki Boys the win.
The Sadiki Boys team of Villegas, Yusri, Joven Batuan, and John Rebulado won the championship cup and the SR10,000 first prize. Kick Downs’ Mohammed Fouzi, Fadi Al Taweel, Zaid Camal, and Hassan Zainhudin with coach Waleed Katab settled for the SR5,000 second prize.
