JEDDAH: Veteran basketball man Cris Melebo entered three teams all under the banner of Friendster-New Cabalen Restaurant, two of them reaching the semifinals with twice to beat privileges in their respective divisions following victories during Week 7 in the 1st Orient Watch Cup and 11th Filsama Basketball League Conference at Star Clubs Gymnasium in Faisaliyah District here.

First to advance to the round of four was Melebo’s Non-Rated Division team, the result of its decisive 106-96 victory over Sharbatly.

The victory gave Friendster-New Cabalen a 6-0 sweep of the eliminations. Completing the semifinal cast in the division in the following order of finish are: Pinky’z, Wasalak and Dabarkads, who all finished on 4-2.

Melebo’s players, at least some of them, had hardly cooled their heels when they returned to the court for an Above 40 Division game against Airnet SUME , which they duly won by 97-85.

Like its Non-Rated counterpart, the Above 40 players of Friendster-Cabalen qualified with a clean 6-0 record. Joining them in the semis are Philcon E-Life Generals, Rabea Tea and Airnet SUME, which qualified despite that Thursday loss to Friendster by beating BMG Knights 111-74 in the first game Friday.

The third team of Friendster-New Cabalen is in the centerpiece Open Rated B Reinforced Division. After a procedural 109-92 victory over Slammers Friday, Friendster-New Cabalen played a critical game against Uncle Majid-Panino’s of Francis Magat last night.

A loss knocks it out of the two-game series championship and brings in Jeddah Guards opposite Uncle Majid-Panino’s, while a victory forces a knockout for the second championship berth against Hassan Zeineddein’s Guards with Slammers electing to forfeit their remaining games.

In the Thursday nightcap, Uncle Majid-Panino’s formalized its entry to the championship with a 4-0 card by beating Jeddah Guards 97-85.

Despite the disadvantage in ceiling Uncle Majid was pretty much in control, led by 12 points, allowed the Guards to briefly take the lead at 67-66 with 2 minutes left in the third quarter before regaining a 12-point spread at 95-83 on a three by Said Albahi with 2:29 left in the game.

Besides Albahi Uncle Majid got the points they needed in the game-changing fourth quarter from Best Player Rey Razon, Mursie Akad and Joseph Ubalde.

Tournament major sponsor is Orient Watch -Al Husseini & Al Yahyah Investment Group. The other league backers are Western Union, LBC Cargo Hari ng Padala, Cruzado Perfume and Virgin Mobile.