RIYADH: Round 2 — Day 10 , the last day of eliminations in the Interbank Basketball League saw Alinma Bank beat Saudi Investment Bank (SAIB) 70 -53 while in the second game SABB outscored Arab National Bank (ANB) in a high-scoring game 98 -79.

Top-scoring for Alinma were Ebrahim Mohammed (17), Ahmed Al Johani (16) and Yazid Bastami (11) while for the losing team Karlo Octavo top scored with 18 with Jonas Moreto added 14 points. In the second game, SABB was led by Peter Merquita with 25, Lino Fernandez with 23 and Ron Alega with 15 markers. Scoring leaders for ANB were Egay Borromeo with 25 points and Gab Gabitanan with 21 points. Both games set up the semifinal games held last Friday.

The first semifinal knockout match pitted Banque Saudi Fransi against SABB who they beat twice in the eliminations by a total of just three points. However, SABB took its revenge by outscoring BSF from the opening bell as SABB led the first quarter by 16 big points and increased that to 24 points at halftime with score of 43 to 19.

BSF could not mount a rally in the second half with SABB maintaining its big lead up to the final buzzer. The scoreline was 75-49.

The top gunners for SABB were reliable Peter Merquita with 15 points and rebounds, dead shot Lino Fernandez with 15 markers and speedster Ron Asuncion adding 13 on daredevil drives to the basket. BSF were led by the usual scoring duo of Ivan Marcelino (13) and Rozel Labinghisa (11). This moved SABB in to the finals with Peter Merquita and Ron Asuncion sharing the Best Player of the game award.

In the second semifinal knockout game, Alinma dominated ANB with the score 96 to 68 to book the last final slot.

Alinma displayed strong inside plays and fastbreaks by outgunning ANB in the first quarter 21- 6 then padded their lead at half time to 43-24. ANB could not match the firepower of Alinma in the second half of a lopsided game. Alinma was again led by towering center Sameer Adam who had another monster game of 27 points and 21 rebounds, with steady support from Ron Rivera 22 points and Ebrahim Mohammed 12 points. ANB scorers were the usual suspects Gab Gabitanan contributing 23 points and Egay Borromeo with 16 markers. Best Player of the game went to both Adam and Rivera of Alinma.

The coming finals pit BSF vs. ANB for 3rd place and Alinma against SABB in the best-of-three championship series starting on Jun. 24 at the Yamama court here. This tournament is organized by the Interbank basketball League of Riyadh in cooperation with PKR which provided the required logistical support.