JEDDAH: Ballers debuted with victory in the centerpiece Category A as did Avengers in Category C and Alshaya Lions in Category D Pool 3 during the Week 4 hostilities in the FBA (Filipino Basketball Association) 37th Season at the Sheraton Jeddah Hotel Sport Complex basketball court here.

Led by the Best Player Salman with 23 points, Ballers of R. Bogcegue blasted Tres Combibos to smithereens in an 86-62 victory to join opening day winner Panino’s for the early lead in the double round robin four-team Category A. Panino’s beat Sweet Amy 87-71.

Pagbilao added 11 and Alcantara contributed 12 points in the Ballers win during the first game Friday. Jay Liam, JR Piedra and Tom Basa paced Jerry Arcilla’s Combibos with 16, 15 and 10 points respectively.

Avengers behind the deadly trio of Dela Vega 16 points, Bonilla 15 and Lisztian Amparado 12 easily got their first win against Olive Hanco 88-65 in a result that prompted organizers to reassess team classification and put balance in the competition. Olive Hanco switched places with Uragons with the former moving down to Category D Pool 2 and Uragons promoted to Category C from D Pool 2.

Erwin Carpena’s Alshaya Lions opened their campaign on a winning note, beating Cheesecake Factory 64-60 in the nightcap Friday.

The Lions used a big fourth quarter scoring 27 points to the enemy’s 13 to hand Cheesecake its first defeat in two games in D Pool 3 that attracted 8 teams. Rod Eusebio scored 18 points and was named Best Player of the game while leading the Lions to victory. Alusado tallied 14 points and Pidlaoan had eight. Meriales and Gange paced Cheesecake with 13 and 12 points.

For the second straight week Nexus teams claimed a weekend double. Nexus’ Category B team sealed back-to-back double victory when it took down KIA 76-63 in the second game Friday with the little known but highly efficient Pascual scoring 22 points, Best Player Amparado coming through with 14 and Yabes tossing in 10 points.

In the fourth game Thursday, Nexus 2 bannered by Goliat 19, Berido 16 and Trijano 9 points brought down UMA 72-69 in D Pool 3.

Liam, suiting up for consecutive games, led KIA with 24 points while Mark Lagria and Malik Ampuan each scoring 7 points.

In the other games Thursday, Freysinnet, getting 16 points from Best Player Dollero, 17 from Castillo and 13 from Estrella, defeatd AMI Pioneer 68-63 in D Pool 2 while ALJ CDC whipped Sharbatly Fruits 68-56 in D Pool 3.

With FBA CEO and president Edgar Mendoza and Commisioner Noel Miguel running the show are: 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. Rodolfo “Boy” Cornejo and Paul Antiporda are the advisers, 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 Tim Hortons Café and Bake Shop, Fawri Money Transfer Services, Cebu Pacific and Manila Cuisine with support from Kabalikat Civicom KSA Chapter.