JEDDAH: Pattaya Restaurant threw down the gauntlet to Unilever in a highly anticipated clash of champions with an 88-85 victory over Faisal Park ELS at the weekend in the Filsama Invitational Basketball 3rd Conference at the Jeddah Sports Academy court on Thalia Street corner Sitteen here.
Hotshot Abril Mabarit scored 27 points and Villanueva, who was unstoppable inside the paint, added 24 as Pattaya used its experience, better ball movement and team coordination to offset the height advantage of ELS and notch its second straight victory.
Defending champion Pattaya now puts its unbeaten record in the centerpiece Open Rated Division on the line against Filsama Basketball League Ramadan Invitational champion Unilever.
Now handled by coach Allen Ng and his assistant, Amang Catador, Pattaya tests the mettle of Leo Rivera’s Unilever in the headline match of the Thursday quadruple bill at 10:15 p.m.
Equally exciting is the battle of the unbeatens featuring IDB Marantao and Al Zugbi in the nightcap on Friday at 9:45 p.m.
IDB Marantao tied idle Al Zugbi for the lead at 3-0 in the Open Rated C Division when it brought down MOG 65-62 in the last game of the tournament’s fifth week actions.
But IDB nearly paid the price for a boner in the dying seconds when it fielded six players all at the same time. As a result, IDB was slapped a technical foul and MOG awarded two free throws and ball possession, cutting IDB’s lead to one at 63-62, time down to 30 seconds.
IDB ran the clock down to the last five seconds before hitting what proved the winning shot, as MOG missed a potential equalizer.
In the All Muslim Division, X-Rulz and Pagadian continued to set the pace at 4-0 and 3-0 by beating Tubaran 100-90 and Al Salam 85-75 respectively.
In consigning Salam to its third straight defeat Pagadian relied on the trio of Amir, Rojo and Luna who each made 18 points.
Facebook and Modern Offset Printer remained tied at 3-0 in the Inter-Company Non Rated Group B. Facebook defeated ASAS Friendster 73-65 in the first game Friday while MOP crushed Jeddah Kickers 84-55.
Disquitado scored 25 points and Melendrez had 23 as Dabarkads topped IMC 77-70 in the Inter-Company Group A in which Jollibee is the proud owner of a 4-0 mark following another victory this time against Jamjoom Pharma 89-75 in the first game Thursday.
