JIPCO, Al Hokair and Al Ayuni teams brought home the much-deserved champion trophies while Donnel Umapas, Mike Bondoc Calma and Marlon Dimaampao emerged Most Valuable Players (MVPs) at the close Friday of the E. A. Juffali & Brothers 9th Basketball League at the Juffali Staff Compound basketball court on Khurais road here.

Juffali Industrial Products Company (JIPCO) of Usman Zahid Mahmood and Dante Fabular put away the Inter-Department category championship beating JACO Mercedes Benz 86-78 in the knockout final game.

Hokair of Coach Zaldy Alquero Datu defended the Inter-Company crown with a 109-104 triumph over powerhouse Petromin A team of coach Sherlymen Crusis. Petromin A starring the Cabadonga brothers Necsan and Necostrato Goody Eleazar, Jonathan Dela Cruz and Anthony Intano cut Hokair’s 12-point lead down to 4 points, 81-77, to end the third quarter. After Datu called for a timeout to try and stop the Petromin’s A rally Hokair took charge during the payoff period to get the victory.

Earlier, Al Ayuni of coach Charlie Ecainir held fast in a tight battle with Al Jomaih 1 of coach Edwin Deraco for the Inter-Automotive championship, winning by 84-81.

The awarding ceremony immediately followed. Team and individual awards for all categories, handed out by league Chairman Rolly Narciso, Vice Chairman Adriano Apostol Jr. and Technical Committee head Boyet Alquero, are as follows:

Inter-Department — Mythical 5 Ely Lisondra, Jhay-R Gragasin, Jerome Tugap, Al Cris Teodosio and Donnel Umapas; best team coach Dante Fabular; champion team Juffali Industrial Products Company (JIPCO); 1st runner-up – JACO Mercedes Benz; 2nd runner-up – Saudi Ericsson and 3rd runner-up — JACO 2;

Inter-Company — Mythical 5 Mike Bondoc Calma, Michael Jay Caliboso, Necsan Cabadonga, Anthony Intano and Richard Asay; best team coach Zaldy Alquero Datu; champion team Al Hokair; 1st runner-up Petromin A; 2nd runner-up Zahid Tractor and 3rd runner-up Saudi Ericsson.

Inter-Automotive — Mythical 5 Jhay-R Gragasin, Alexander Alabado, Ian Torres, Jallal Domiar and Marlon Dimaampao; best team coach Charlie Ecainir; champion team Al Ayuni; 1st runner-up Al Jomaih 1; 2nd runner-up JACO Mercedes Benz and 3rd runner-up Al Jomaih 2.

The tournament enjoyed the generous support of E. A. Juffali & Brothers Company management. The sponsors and supporters include JACO Mercedes Benz through Shane Loterring, JIPCO through Ali Bistawi, Rodney Ghattas, Kelani Zaltani and Usman Zahid Mahmood, Western Union through Nomer Cuartero, Flash Cargo of Arnold Dela Cruz and The Filipino Confederation of Basketball Referees (FCBR) headed by Ed Khalid Tamayo.

With Narciso, Apostol and Alquero in the committee were Fabular (Sports Coordinator), George Velasco (Treasurer/Auditor), Bryan Daquera (Secretary) Emil Gamboa & Resti Sabote (Food & Refreshment), Marjun Mendoza (Transportation), Mark Valdez & Allan De Guzman (Marshalls), and Ferdie Balderama, Froilan Resido, Ryan Martin, Christian Esteban, Ramon Jison, Florencio Narisma and Resty Matre (Committee members).

The scores:

JIPCO (86) D. Umapas 28, B. Cadano 24, J. Dalangin 14, G. Familara 8, J. Tugap 4, J. Burgos 3, D. Fabular 3, M. Mendoza 2

JACO Mercedes Benz (78) JR Gragasin 24, E. Lisondra 22, F. Resido 9, O. Pergis 8, O. Calimlim 5, B. Razon 4, M. Naguit 3, G. Velasco 3

Al Hokair (109) J. Cava 26, M. Caliboso 24, M. Calma 22, K. Romera 10, N. Canas 9, R. Dizon 8, J. Diono 6, R. Pille 4

Petromin A (104) Necsan Cabadonga 24, Necostrato Cabadonga 24, J. Dela Cruz 22, A. Intano 14, G. Eleazar 8, A. Balbona 6, A. Duhaylungsod 6

Al Ayuni (84) M. Dimaampao 28, R. Esguerra 17, J. Domoiar 10, E. Raganit 10, R. Escaner 8, D. Hidalgo 6, J. Archibedo 3, L. Lacap 2

Al Jomaih 1 (81) I. Torres 27, G. Borlongan 12, A. Alabado 11, F. Dacera 9, M. Cuenca 7, M. Sandigo 5, R. Bayani 5, L. Cabral 3, JL Arceno 2