Defending champion Al Taj A came right back after an upset by Elite A in their semifinal to win Game 1 of their best-of-three championship series while Palm Crest B brought down Al Taj B in a see saw encounter 68-66 in a separate series for the Group B title in the Inter-School Bonafide Parents basketball tournament 2014 hosted of the first time by Sheraton Riyadh Hotels rubberized court here.

Al Taj boys were controlling the tempo of the game to lead 42-30 after the second quarter only for Elite A to regain momentum and close the third quarter at 51-all.

On resumption, Al Taj banked on the twin towers of Rodney Esguerra and Drew Vallejo along with Arnel Diala, Glen Velayo, Ryan Biugos and Oliven Balmeo to slowly but surely took control of the game for a 78-73 victory. Jeff Salac scored a game-high 35 points with 3 steals, 2 assists and 6 rebounds for Elite but his effort was not enough to stop the determined Al Taj .

The Palm Crest B-Al Taj B was equally exciting. Sherwin Manalo displayed his power plays and the agility of Edwin dela Cruz and Mar Defensor plus the able support of Adel Malingin in the paint enabled the Palm Crest to match up well against their veteran opponents to post the 68-66 win.

In the knockout game for third and fourth in Group A, SPIS anchored by Topher Dimaculangan with his game high of 20 points downed Future Generation 86-83, while in Group B, Elite B-1 squad of Ronnie Ronquillo, Ronnie Dela Torre, Dodong Solis, Jojo Umiten and Al Abao dominated the game for an 89-79 triumph over ADIS.

The tournament, being held for the benefit of the children of UNICEF, enjoys the generous support of Paul C. Dunphy, Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers GM and parents from different schools.

The scores:

AL TAJ A 78 — A. Diala 20, R. Esguerra 16, G. Velayo 13, A. Vallejo 11, O. Balmeo 9, D. Lejano 4, R. Biugos 3, R. Pineda 2.

ELITE A 73 — J. Salac 35, R. Langit 14, J. Emping 8, D. Bugayong 5, F. Badawi 5, A. Debaratum 2, M. Atraje 2, B. Gapasin 2

Refs.: Ernie Dela Cruz, Joel Villania, Kris Tapia

PALM CREST B 68 — S. Manalo 22, E. Dela Cruz 12, A. Malingin 12, M. Defensor 12, B. Esidera 6, P. Santuele 2, K. Nabiula 2.

AL TAJ-B 66 — Y. Tibus 20, D. Tenorio 18, L. Acharon 15, P. Pararuan 6, R. Bathan 4 and L. Santos 3

SPIS 86 — T. Dimaculangan 20, J. Frugal 15, D. Hernaez 9, J. Reynaldo 8, J. Jimenez 8, C. Santos 6, R. Novilunio 6, P. Poliquit 6, Don Flores 5, T. Jamison

FUGEN 83 — R. Soraosos 25, J. Abella 24, D. Barbosa 9, J. Tolentino 7, R. Garcia 6, M. Montalbo 6, J. Jumawan 4, M. Dabu 2

ELITE B-1 89 — R. Ronquillo 24, R. Dela Torre 22, D. Solis 20, J. Umiten 11, Al Abao 10, J. Gonzales 4, J. Bautista 3, A. Datinggaling 2 and R. Garcia 1

ADIS 76 — Z. Salampong 25, N. Lagutin 18, Talusig 13, Aguilar 7, Tan 6, Mojica 4 and Labsan 3