Fresh from winning its first assignment two Fridays ago, the Arabian Point Eight Power Co. Ltd (APEP) of Team Manager Lhito Bautista dealt All-Star Zamil Industrial team of Meng Natividad a resounding defeat, 90-77, in Inter-Company Group A in the 15th UFBF Open Basketball Tournament Friday at the Al Qadisiyah Sports Gymnasium.

APEP won its first game against Al Osais, 88-80.

UFBF boasts one of its biggest tournaments yet, featuring 18 inter-company teams from diffferent companies grouped into two – Group A and Group B, and junior non-rated divisions which opened last June 27, with 54 teams in the fold.

An exciting player slowly making a name in the game, James Chua, a former UP-Diliman student and ex-fitness instructor, exploded for 28 points made mostly in the paint with his powerful moves and offensive rebounds.

APEP five started out hot in the opening quarter powered by a combined 10 points from Chua alone and 12 markers from Ricardo Sotto, Reynaldo Siban, Eleazar Maralit and Ceasar Java that gave APEP a 22-11 lead after the first quarter.

APEP sustained momentum to end the first half on top 47-34.

APEP built a 13-point lead and threatened to break the game wide open but Zamil’s five went to work as they scored on putbacks to slice the lead to just five, 56-51, behind Bong Libramonte, Albert Patdu and Philip Roberto, 4:38 left. But the duo of Chua and the silent hero Ibrahim Naif, made successive baskets and combined for 15 points and widened the lead anew 70-57 cushion at end of third quarter on Maralit’s layup basket.

Zamil’s Patdu and Rolly Valenzuela battled back at the beginning of the last quarter with back-to-back baskets but was answered by Aljon Iway and Ibrahim Naif’s lay-up shots. APEP then took control in the last three minutes enjoying a 15-point lead.

In inter-company Group B, Nesma & Partners registered its first win thumping the last season’s runner-up, Al Falak, 88-80, in a much-hyped encounter between early favorites. Nesma came in full force with new management and rejuvenated line-up featuring new faces in Ismael Batutay and Cresente Generaole.

Displaying near-perfect perimeter shooting, Batutay led all scorers with 35 points while getting big support from Generaole 25 points. Al Falak actually played excellent basketball early on behind ace guard Jonathan Marinas and was ably backed by Ali Khaledi, Erick Antonio and Ryan Eulogio ending the first quarter ahead by just a point, 17-16.

With Al Falak threatening to take control of the game early in the third quarter, Eulogio exploded from beyond the arc. Two straight triples from Eulogio gave Al Falak some breather plus Marinas’ two consecutive baskets that trimmed the lead down to just a single digit, 55-46, midway in that quarter. Nesma got the upperhand with a 10-point advantage 66-56 going into the last quarter.

Meanwhile, Al Mouwasat scored a come-from-behind victory over Clippers 80-76. Clippers led all three quarters 19-12, 39-30 and 58-50. But it was all Mouwasat in the last quarter as 4 of its 5 starters in Michael Juanite, Herbert Catapang, Noel Amodovar and Larry Bea played an all around -game to take the lead for the first time on Juanite’s back-to-back baskets and a triple for a 76-70 lead with 2:20 to play. Former MVP Juanite, who missed the first quarter, still top-scored for Al Mouwasat with 30 points, Catapang added 19, Almodovar had 16, Bea with 11, while Mark Javate and Chris Evangelista each had 2 points apiece.

The 15th UFBF Open Basketball Tournament is organized by the United Filipino Basketball Federation headed by its chairman, Abdul Fettah Ennayal, and commissioner, Resty de Asis. Other members of the UFBF Organizing Committee are: Francis Gascon (asst. commissioner and technical head), Mel Thaib Globio (secretary general), Noni Mahilum (finance director), Rene Manlulu/Lito Banayat (promo & marketing directors), Rene Madayag (coordinator), Bien Capones (sportscaster), Francis Borje (facilities coordinator), Jerry Montemayor (timekeeper). BARECOM of Tony Mampuste handles the tournament officiating.