For the first time in many years basketball fans at Industrial City got to witness a full regional featuring some of the big names in Filipino basketball in the Kingdom during the 1st ISA-FBL Eid Al-Fitr Invitational Cup.

Earning bragging rights as the best outfit at the end of the two-day basketball exhibition event was Laguna Lakers Cargo Forwarders of Riyadh who beat Shadow Lounge 102-93 in the winner-take-all final Tuesday last week.

The Lakers and Shadow Lounge advanced to the final by beating Friendster, another Jeddah team, and FAEC (Fahad Alireza Engineering Consultants) of Dammam on the first day of the competition.

Fil-Am James Smith showed why he was the MVP on this night with a do-it-all performance, scoring 33 points for the Lakers and rebounding splendidly despite leg cramps early in the fourth period that briefly put him out of the game.

Raymond Alcosabas, who shared MVP honors with Smith, brought energy to the Lakers with his speed and quickness, while Sherwin Garcia delivered 3-point bombs in the clutch, as the visiting team from Riyadh steadily pulled away after Francis Magat’s Shadow Lounge controlled the first two quarters.

Smith hit consecutive baskets in an 11-0 blast to start the third quarter that Alcosabas finished with a baseline drive and gave Laguna a 12-point lead at 58-46 from 47-46.

Shadow Lounge, coached by Boy Corsega, battled mightily in the high intensity game to come within 3 points at 71-68 on a three by Ron Magat.

The third quarter ended 73-70 to Laguna. But the Lakers again mounted a 9-0 tear in another solid start to the final period with Edward Pening joining the fray after Smith had suffered cramps.

Shadow Lounge never recovered from a flurry of Laguna baskets and its bid was dealt a blow when it lost big men Joseph Ubalde and Raymond Matias to fouls. Early on, Shadow Lounge momentum might have been ruined when the game was stopped a number of times due to repeated complaining by Laguna coach Lito Villanueva against officiating.

Newly arrived and promising player Morsie Akad also fouled out after his completed steal pushed SL to within 7 at 83-76 going into the last six minutes, a period when Smith was back in the game and where he kept the enemy at bay with his steady shooting.

Alcasabas finished with 21 points, Garcia added 10 and Cortez 8 points for Laguna.

Magat led Shadow Lounge with 27 points, Roby David and Akad, who won the slam dunk contest, each had 17 while Ubalde made 12 points.

FAEC, cheered by its noisy supporters, won the game for third place against Friendster 91-75.

The awards ceremony took place after the title game ended at the break of dawn due to a delayed start as the Industrial City Dawah Office (ICDO) court was used for another program.

ISA and FBL heads Eric Abrantes and Abdulmoen “Teng” Laguialam, the groups’ consultant-adviser Mohamed Bayoumi and Jimmy Beltran handed out the awards.

Ali Café and Enjaz-Western Union are the event major sponsors along with Basamh Trading-Perfetto.

The minor sponsors are Sky Freight Forwarders through GM Emy de Guzman who donated trophies, Butler Juffali Co. through Robert Maranan, and Jotun Paints through Raul Negradas. Shadow Lounge Restaurant sponsored food for the committee and guests.