JEDDAH: Avengers won a thrilling Category C game that went to overtime against Durat Al Arous 107-105 while Nexus opened its second round eliminations in Category B by crushing KIA 100-68 in Week 11 in the FBA (Filipino Basketball Association) 37th Season at the Sheraton Jeddah Hotel Sport Complex basketball court here.

Veteran Barry Nader played a strong performance and was named Best Player of the game while leading the Avengers in tandem with Rey Razon to a big victory over Durat which had its four-game winning streak abruptly ended by its determined opponent.

The regulation period ended 92-all. Nader and Razon came up with the marginal points in overtime as they combined to give Avengers their second straight victory in the eight-team category.

Nader finished the night on 32 points including six three-pointers, while Razon tallied 31 points. Santiago added 16 points and Nemitz Dangao had 15 for the Avengers.

Montejo led Durat with 19 points, Romero made 15 and Melo 14 points.

An 85-82 triumph over Al Mabani in the second game Thursday actually set up a weekend double for the Avengers who had Razon as the Best Player with 17 points.

In another strong match in Category C, Pinoy Expatriates.Com brought down AVK 79-75 in the first game Thursday.

The victory put Pinoy in a tie for second place with Al Mabani on 3-2. Durat still leads the category despite the defeat on 4-1.

Nexus, getting 25 points from Best Player Lisztian Amparado, 17 from Berido, 15 from Flores and 14 from De Vega, jumped the gun on KIA by scoring 30 points in the first quarter while limiting the enemy to 13 points.

Nexus, which streaked to its fourth victory, never looked back after that pouring 22 and 23 points in the middle quarters as against 16 and 22 for KIA.

In Category D Pool 2, LBS Pioneer split their assignments, losing against Atlas Copco 59-54 in the third game Thursday and beating SITML 53-45 in the second game Friday.

Also, AVK gained a split for the week when it defeated D’Barkadz Pilipinas 64-51 in the nightcap Friday.

Today’s games pit Freysinnet vs. Olive Hanco D2, Durat Al Arous vs. Twitch Mobile C, Sweet Amy vs. Tres Combibos A and Codec 3pol Ace vs. Jeddah Hilton D1.

FBA CEO and president Edgar Mendoza and Commissioner Noel Miguel run the show with support from the following: Admin/PR Director Jerry P. Lagrimas, Field Operations Director Robert Jose, Finance Director Jinkee Mendoza, Finance Admin Asst. Yuan Bondoc, and committee members Jimmy Nicdao, Mario delos Santos and Jessie Sales. Sheraton Jeddah Hotel Security Force is in charge of the peace and security while JOG (Jeddah Officiating Group) handles the tournament officiating.

The tournament is sponsored by Fawri Money Transfer Services, Cebu Pacific and Manila Cuisine with support from Kabalikat Civicom KSA Chapter.