Nunungan, SBG, Baud Telecom and Marogong clinch titles

JEDDAH: Nunungan Lanao Lakers, SBG D’ Inspectors and BTC-Baud Telecom did their homework to each win the decisive Game 3s at the weekend while Marogong though ready was handed the title on a silver platter after Moulinex forfeited their own championship finale in the 1st Friendi Basketball Tournament presented by all new WPBL at the Ahmed Khaki Sports Complex (Orca) court here.
Nunungan, bannered by the Friendster boys of Cris Melebo, used two big runs in the third and fourth quarters to repulse fighting Carrier-Juffali 82-75 and capture the centerpiece Inter-Commercial Open Rated championship in the nightcap Friday before another huge crowd.
D’ Inspectors met little resistance in a 77-57 rout of Friendi Mobile in the third game Friday that gave them the Inter-Commercial Open Non-Rated B title, while Marogong on Thursday took the Open Non-Rated A crown when Moulinex for some reason failed to show up for the game.
The Open Non-Rated C championship series between BTC and Greenland was extended into the first day Saturday of the Eid exhibition games after Greenland defeated BTC 88-79 in the second game of the best-of-three series Friday. BTC took the series opener 95-84 Thursday.
In a thrilling end to an exciting series, BTC edged Greenland 82-81 when Marmay flubbed two free throws with 7.6 seconds to play.
With the score at 82-81 to BTC and Greenland with a chance to either tie or win, Marmay gave in to championship game pressure and missed both attempts from the free-throw line.
BTC also missed its free throws on the next trip with four seconds remaining but grabbed the defensive rebound to preserve the hard-earned win.
Padilla paced BTC with 20 points, Jeff Galzote and Bathan each had 13 while De Ocampo added 12.
Diego Domalogdog top-scored for Nunungan with 23 points including a big three in a 12-3 blast that began with a Jorge Pascual drive and sent the Lakers to a 76-68 spread with 5:48 left in the fourth quarter after the Aircon specialists had tasted the lead for the last time at 65-64.
Carrier’s guns fell silent for little over three minutes to start the third period and Nunungan dropped a 10-0 bomb that had the Lakers taking a 12-point lead, 51-39 from 41-39.
Big Elamparo, the beanpole J. Ubalde and Brian Adaya pushed hard to have Carrier back in the game, and after the third quarter ended 58-53 to Nunungan Kiel Yutuc hit back-to-back three-pointers to put Carrier within three at 64-61. Ubalde then converted both free throws off the fourth foul by James Smith, who was whistled for a traveling violation on the next play to set up a three-pass fastbreak that Ubalde finished and gave Juffali that 65-64 lead with 6:36 to play.
The awarding ceremony was held after each of the championship games. WPBL Commissioner Frank James Roxas awarded trophies to the winners. Assisting him were WPBL past chairman Joemar Baganian, WPBL adviser Hamdan Al-Harithy, WPBL consultant-adviser, Presidential Banaag awardee and friend of the Filipino community Mohamed Bayoumi and WPBL adviser Jimmy Abdullah Beltran.
The individual awards are as follows:
Open Rated — Kiel Yutuc, Yoyong Akmad (Best Guards), Mark Basa, Matias (Best Forwards), James Smith (Best Center), Christian Guimpatan (MVP), Amang Catador (Best Coach)
Division A — Liam, Alturas (Best Guards), Basilio, Daham (Best Forwards), Malik Ampuan (Best Center), Alturas (MVP), Jameel (Best Coach)
Division B — Marmay, Razal (Best Guards), Castillo, Jorge Pascual (Best Forwards), Joven Batuhan (Best Center), Allan Cotongan (MVP), Rene Lim (Best Coach)
Division C — Jeff Galzote, Palo (Best Guards), Manlangit, Marmay (Best Forwards), De Ocampo (Best Center), Galzote (MVP), Ian Diez (Best Coach)