The ultimate basketball event in the Eastern Region dubbed 16th UFBF-FAEC Basketball Tournament opened last Friday at the Al Qadisia sports gymnasium here.

With the theme “Unstoppable, Eh di Wow!,” the tournament had more than 20 teams that paraded in their resplendent uniforms in a simple but elegant opening hosted by UFBC long-time friend, Joel Baron, and assisted by the Secretary General Mel Thaib Globio.

Fahd Alireza Engineering Consultants is this season’s major sponsor. Mohd Dossary Hospital, McDonald’s and Al Hoty Group are minor sponsors.

William Gadison, SADARA’s senior HR advisor, graced the occasion and was the special guest who delivered an inspirational message in front of the delighted crowd. Nonie Mahilum led the invocation while United Kicks Aficionados Arabia (UKAA’s) Dave Sarmiento recited the oath of sportsmanship.

ACGC bagged the Most Organized Team award for the second straight season, while Extra Shockwave and Axiom Telecom BB Passport took the 1st and 2nd runners-up honors. The Bahrain-Philippines-Cargo (BPC) Express impressed the judges composed of UFBF Executive committee with their complete and unique uniforms and was later adjudged Best in Uniform with UKAA and SADARA taking runners-up award. Sportsmanship trophy was awarded to ACGC Team of Flor Danao and Nemy Alvarez, while Loyalty Award was unanimously won by Sancho Sandoval of the Clippers Team. Special thanks to Narciso “Janjie” Ilagan, McDonald’s Saudi Arabia Area Manager, for the venue set-up and decoration.

More than 50 teams entered and were divided into the following categories: Division A (Premier League), Inter-company, Junior D3, D-4 and D-5. Intercompany teams are ABB (Thomas and Betts), ACEC Consultants, ACGC, Al Falak, APEP, Intercon Hotels Group (IHG), Saipem, SRACO, Zamil Group and Zamil Industrial. Division A is composed of FAEC, Khobar Warriors, Aramco-DBL and Saudi Team (Jubail). Junior division teams are: ACEC Consultants, BEWA Mixers, Clippers, FAEC-Junior, Angels, Cyber Dudes 1&2, Dammam Pirates, Hummer, OCF-BQE, SADARA, Soles4u, PCB Bulldogs, Abana, Axiom Telecom, BPC, BTC, Centrepoint, Extra, Rashed BKT, Red Lions, Khobar Hotshots, Alpha Male, Bisdak Mixers, Hazim Consulting, Kanz Jewelry, King Fahd Hospital, Pipstrit, Sigac, Stallions, UKAA, UMA, Al Hoty Stanger, ALJ-Toyota, CFM, Deen, Dento Plast, Friends, Pepsi Dabarkads, Slammers and U&TSD Wellness.

In opening game, SADARA came up short in a last quarter rally losing to Hummer in its debut game, 81-79, in Junior D4.

SADARA came off strong in the opening quarter enjoying a 12-point lead on back-to-back hits by its scoring machine, Mark Vergara, supported strongly by Joel Llego, Randy Lagumbayan and Ardjay Aliento.

SADARA continued to play excellent ballgame until end of second quarter finishing with a commanding lead, 38-27, on solid teamwork by its starters. But Hummer found its way to hold off SADARA’s firepower behind diminutive guard Emak Lazaro, Albert Patdu, brothers Mark and Rey Millena and slowly cut the deficit to just 6, 53-59, end of the third quarter.

Jacob Salva hit a perimeter shot to grab the lead for the first time at 64-63, 7:48 minutes left in the last quarter. It was a see-saw battle inside the 5-minute mark but Hummer reigned supreme at crunch time. Patdu led his team with 24 points, Lazaro added 16, Salva and Mark Millena had 16 and 10 markers respectively, while Rey Millena and Brian Rosales combined for 12 points.

SADARA’s Vergara led all scorers with 28 points, Llego had 24, Lagumbayan chipped in 10 points while Aliento and Hernan Adriano combined for 11. Extra Shockwave celebrated its maiden appearance with a 112-101 victory over Axiom Telecom in Junior D5-A. Christopher Tan scored 25 points, while four more starters, Nino Bartido, Jeff Justiniano, Eddie Bulingit and Lapera finished in double digit markers.

The comebacking ACEC Consultants proved too strong to beat depleted SRACO team, 99-73, in Inter-company division. Dennis Relucio led the pack with 30 points, Giovannie Jacaba added 25, Dennis Bonilla had 21 and Angelo Baltazar with 12 for ACEC. Peter Paul Sanchez scored 27 points for SRACO, Leo Dayo had 17, Roch Amano with 13 and Wendel Dimalanta chipped in 8.