Intrepid kept alive its bid for a twice-to-beat edge after a close 70-69 victory over Veolia Water even as the four out of six divisions all but finished eliminations and are set for the semifinals after Week 14 in the 2nd Nokia-Asha and 35th FBA season basketball tournament at the Sheraton Jeddah Hotel Sport Complex court.

Gilbert and Poliquit knocked in the marginal points as Intrepid stayed perfect with a 7-0 card in Inter-Company Bonafide Division C during the second game Thursday.

Gilbert finished with 20 points, Best Player of the game Rey had 16 as did Jerry Flores while Poliquit added 7 points.

Al Mabani kept pace of Intrepid at 7-1 in the nine-team division by crushing Ford Al Jazeera Motors 81-60.

Veolia (4-4) managed a split when it won against Gulf Taled 92-46.

Pepsi formalized its place at No. 3 for the semifinals by beating Gharib 88-79 in an Inter-Company Bonafide Division A game Thursday.

The win gave Pepsi a 4-2 record in a tie with No. 2 KIA Motors and fourth qualifier Giordano-Juffali. Jimmy Abdullah Beltran’s Sequioa finished No. 1 at 5-1, and will face off with Giordano-Juffali while KIA will take on Pepsi in the knockout semifinals.

Best Player Payawan top-scored with 24 points for Pepsi, Henzon added 19, Moster had 11 and Zorilla 10.

The Inter-Hotels and Restaurant also played its final elimination round game won by Park Hyatt Jeddah over InterContinental Jeddah Hotel 62-58 in the first game Friday.

Despite the defeat InterCon (2-3) qualified No. 4 in the division alongside Saudi Catering, Uncle Majid Rice and Toppings of Francis Magat and Park Hyatt. Out of the knockout phase of the six-division tournament sponsored by Nokia are Movenpick Jeddah Hotel (1-4) and Sheraton Jeddah Hotel (1-4).

Park Hyatt’s Barrientos, who had 28 points, was named Best Player, Sarenas, Boctot and Alcantara supported Barrientos with 10, 9 and 7 points respectively.

Yambao and the hardworking Egyptian player Hamdy led InterCon’s losing cause with 17 and 16 points.

In the Inter-Commercial Open Non-Rated Division, AVK edged Jeddah United 55-52 in a thrilling game Friday.

Both teams still have one game remaining but whatever happens AVK (4-1) is guaranteed of the No. 3 spot behind Friendster (5-1) and Almuhaidib (4-2) with Hassan Zeineidin’s Jeddah United (3-2) at No. 4.

While Sequioa qualified for the semifinals its sister team in the tournament, Komatsu of Noel Sun, had no such luck, beaten 88-84 by New Breed Al Shaya in the fourth game Friday.

It was the second of three games Komatsu needs to win to stay in the hunt for a spot in the next round in Inter-Company B. Instead Komatsu dropped to 2-4 and out of the race, while New Breed boosted its own bid at 3-3 in a tie with ITC and Petromin Express. Silencer 2 (6-0) and Focus Ad (5-1) are safe at 1 and 2.

Framo was adjudged Best Player after scoring 24 points at the head of New Breed where Oligario and Turla matched outputs of 17 points while Mendoza added 13. Montano dela Cruz and Paul Taguba scored 23 and 22 points for Komatsu.

A clear picture also emerged in the Inter-Hospital Reinforced race after Soliman Fakeeh Hospital defeated Salam Home Health Care 88-67 in the third game Thursday to improve to 3-1, half a game ahead of Salam (3-2).

Idle KFAFH leads the division at 4-0. KAAUH is out of it at 1-4 and Saudi German is likely to be the fourth qualifier behind KFAFH, Salam and Fakeeh.

AMI Saudi Arabia kept its hopes alive in Inter-Company C following its 62-56 triumph over Inma in the nightcap Thursday.