Friendster used speed and quickness to frustrate the taller and bigger Avengers and cruise to a 94-68 triumph that spoke volumes about its readiness for the championship of the centerpiece Inter-Commercial Open Rated Division in the 2nd Nokia-Asha and 35th FBA season basketball tournament at the Sheraton Jeddah Hotel Sport Complex court.

Mursie Akad and Salman each scored 21 points, Tom Basa frolicked from beyond the arc and finished with 16 while Diego Domalogdog and JR Piedra added 12 and 8 points as Cris Melebo’s Friendster squad buried the Avengers in an avalance of baskets to score its third win in five games.

The victory sets up Friendster (3-2) to a mouth-watering clash against Jeddah United (3-1) with the former seeking to avenge its first round defeat in Friendster’s last game of the double round robin eliminations. Friendster got back at its first round tormentor Spicy Fingers (Explosive) with a decisive 88-64 win in their rematch.

At 1-4 the Avengers are effectively out of the race for the championship. Jeddah United’s other remaining game is against Spicy Fingers who are 2-2 and needing to sweep their last two games including against Avengers to have any chance of reaching the title series.

Enjoying a good shooting night, Friendster took an early 8-point lead and when Avengers came to within two points Akad hit a three for 35-30.

The first half ended 45-38 that ballooned to 49-38 on two quick Friendster baskets. Friendster kept the pressure on Avengers with its stifling defense and had an answer to each enemy uprising. The lead grew to 12 at 59-47 after Akad scored on an assist by Zyad Pascual who himself added one on a putback before a Domalogdog basket in the lane made it 70-55 at the end of the third quarter.

Salman scored six of his total in the fourth period to help Friendster put the issue beyond doubt at 84-61 with 5:42 to play.

Gangling Tarek Al Ether led Avengers with 18 points while Mazen had 13.

Elsewhere in Week 13 of the tournament, Silencer 1 denied KIA Motors the No. 1 for the semifinals with an 86-78 victory in their Inter-Company Bonafide Division A match Thursday, Komatsu ALJ (2-3) won the first of three games it needed to win, against Al Majal Gas 77-74, and kept its flickering hopes alive in the Inter-Company B, while Hassan Zeineddein’s Jeddah Eagles downed AMI Saudi Arabia 75-61 for their third win in five games in the 10-team Inter-Company C.

The loss dropped KIA to No. 2 at 4-2 with Jimmy Abdullah Beltran’s Sequoia taking No. 1 at 5-2. Giordano-Juffali also has a 4-2 card and guaranteed to go through along with Pepsi (3-2) for the Nos. 3 and 4.

Best Player of the game Duran and the hardworking Hamdy were the main men at Silencer 1 with 22 and 20 points while Mero added 16 points.

Louai scored 21 points, Kamal had 15 and Jarcas made 11 points for the young Eagles who broke free from a tight game in the second half.

In other games, Veola Water defeated Ina 69-52 (Inter-Company C), Focus Ad downed Petromin 86-74 (Inter-Company B), Al Mabani edged Ford Al Jazeera Raptors 83-81 (Inter-Company C), KFAFH beat KAAUH 86-76 and ITC overwhelmed Zahid Tractor 93-45 (Inter-Company B).