Nunungan Lanao scores; UFWORK-KFAFH cagefest kicks off

Jeddah: Arab News

An early meeting between powerhouses Shadow Lounge and Nunungan Lanao Lakers and the opening of the UFWORK-KFAFH (United Filipino Workers-King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital) 10th Inter-Department Basketball Tournament marked the second week of the Friendi Mobile-WPBL 16th Conference at the Ahmed Khaki Sports Complex court here.
Lanao Lakers battled hard despite trailing for most of the game and were rewarded for their perseverance with a 93-91 victory over Shadow Lounge in a thrilling Inter-Commercial Open Rated Division game last Thursday.
Spitfire Diego Domalogdog tossed in a floater from the left side in a buzzer-beating game-winning play that had the Nunungan in a frenzy.
For Shadow Lounge, which had led by six points going into the stretch, it was another case of one that got away despite the fact that its lineup was made even stronger by the addition of John “The Tank” Rebulado and Ryan Aguam.
Domalogdog, whose steady hands from the free-throw line kept his team in the hunt, hit the shot after Nunungan cleverly ran the clock down to the last second after gaining ball possession with 24.3 seconds to play.
Besides Domalogdog point guard Yoyong Akmad and Basa also came up with sterling displays for the Lakers coached by Amang Catador.
The Shadow Lounge 1-2 punch of Ron Magat and Roby David both converted critical free throws, and the last two by David tied the count at 91-all.
In other WPBL week 2 results, Petromin defeated sponsor team Friendi Mobile 91-71 in Inter-Commercial Non Rated, Ate Aida Catering downed Duke Hammadi 85-81 and Moulinex defeated Computer Diagnostics Center 97-81.
On Thursday, the tournament within a tournament, UFWORK-KFAFH (United Filipino Workers-King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital) 10th Inter-Department that attracted 13 teams.
Assistant Labor Attache Alex V. Inza Cruz of the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah was the chief guest.
Named Best Team in Uniform was HRD Tigers while Cherry Chua of Academic Affairs and Training Center bagged the Best Muse award.
With Indomie and Jollibee as major sponsors, this year’s event is being organized by UFWORK led by Shailanie Marohombsar and Julius Blanquera.
The co-sponsors are Jeddah Dental Supply of Gulf Medical Co., Johnson & Johnson, Al Jeel Medical & Trading Co. Ltd., Al Eshar Construction, Gazi Trading Est., Falcon Heat Changer Coil, Universal Coil, Ahmed Nahji & Al Soam Trading, Al Ajou, Canon and Therefore.
Winning their opening games on Thursday were Engineering A over HRD 69-45 and Housekeeping A over Warehouse 75-68. Friday’s twinbill saw Admin crush Engineering B 100-59 and Academic Affairs down BME 75-33.
The teams entered are: AATC, Admin Department, Biomed, CSSD Warriors, Dietary Lakers, Engineering, Engineering Falcons, HRD Tigers, Housekeeping A, Housekeeping B, Nursing Department, Porter BT and Warehouse Bodegeros.