ALKHOBAR: Fahd Alireza Engineering Consultants (FAEC) team of Edward James Francis made a triumphant return as it powered past Aramco-DBL of Bismarck Penesa, 109-81, in the Premier League Friday in the 16th UFBF FAEC Basketball Tournament.

Sweet shooting Benjie Labitoria top-scored with 18 points and drew strong support from stalwart Mathew Qarney with 17 markers while Mike Sison, Neil Aclan and Eugene Santos each had 16 points apiece and former Batangas Blade Allan De Castro contributed 12, Julius Eleazar had 9 and former PBA Norman Gonzales had 3.

Fahd Alireza Engineering Consultants is this season’s major sponsor. Mohd Dossary Hospital, Bangus Restaurant and McDonalds are minor sponsors.

Missing the services of his key players, Penesa promised to come back strong in their second game saying “it’s only a first game and most of my players are out on a long holiday.” Jeremy Caparoso stepped up with 27 points, almost half of these coming in the fourth canto, while Joey Navarro added 19 markers but none of their teammates scored in double-digit. As a result, they trailed by 20 big points 49-29 going into the third frame.

Banking on its vast experience, FAEC five never looked back to unleash 12 unanswered points late in the third quarter to establish control with big men Qarney, Sison, and Gonzales getting the offensive rebounds that set-up uncontested shots from the fearless duo of Labitoria and Eleazar to take a 78-50 lead to end the period.

Multititled FAEC never gave Aramco-DBL a chance to recover in the fourth, finishing with a comfortable margin on De Castro’s split charity to snatch the win.

After its first game sorry loss, Bahrain-Philippine-Cargo (BPC) express recorded a landslide victory over Dammam Pirates, 103-79, in Junior D-4.

Sponsored by Marlon Gargar and managed by Alex Mejia, BPC raced to an early lead behind Christopher Pena, Nelson Nayre, Jay-R Villareal and Ian Java to go up 21-6, after Mike Cruz’ corner triple, 2:43 minutes left in the opening quarter. However, a slew of errors by BPC allowed the Pirates to slowly claw their way back early in the second canto using an 11-0 run to tie the game at 22-all on Vic Bince’s three-point play and even seized the lead, 24-22, on Ronald Reyes’ putback, 7:44 minutes left in that period.

But all those hopes were immediately dashed by BPC five that racked up 10 straight points courtesy of Jonar Anuada and Angel Singyan and had the lead back at 34-24 on Herbert Abasanta’s layup shot, 5:22 minutes remaining.

The Pirates tried to shake off BPC squad in the third quarter behind Reyes and Bince who scored successive baskets but BPC answered back and even stretched the lead, 74-55, end of third quarter on Singyan’s buzzer-beating basket. BPC uncorked another 12-2 fourth quarter run that left its rival gasping, 5:54 left in the game. Anuada led BPC with 19 points while getting a strong support from Abasanta and Singyan with 11 points each. Pena, Sunga, Cruz, Villareal, Java, Maniacop, Nayre and Salva combined for 40 points.

United Motors Agencies (UMA) dealt BMW a 91-60 drubbing in Junior D5-B. Al Arcillas top-scored with 16 points, Jay-r Celebrado and Mark Mustrado each had 15 markers, Ryan Zabater had 13 and Boy Papellero 11. Also, Raffi Salandino, Floro Castro and Rosendo Montibon combined for 18 points.

After losing two games in a row, Abana got back on track with an 86-79 overtime victory over Axiom telecom in Junior D5-A. Reggie Lustan led the pack with 23 points, Gerald Gangoso had 19, Rez Gargantel added 10 while Jonathan Lagra, Christopher Mendoza and Crisalino Sarigumba finished with 8 points apiece.

Other game results: El Toro beat Hummer, 75-67 while UKAA picked up its 2nd straight win by edging out Pipstrit, 72-71, in Junior D5-B. Dave Sarmiento had another big game who did what he does best finishing with 24 points including 2 triples.