Lebanese Community Basketball Team set up a potentially explosive best-of-three Inter-Commercial Open Rated championship against Western Union with a decisive 84-65 victory over Egypt Selection Friday in the Microsoft Lumia & 36th FBA Basketball Tournament that enters the knockout stages at the Sheraton Jeddah Hotel court.

Wily guard and Best Player of the game Jad Kaddara scattered 30 points in another display of quality game, Tareq Al Eter added 19 and Mahmoud Kerr and Abdul Kareem each scored 8 points as the Lebanese team of coach Hassan Zeineddein dominated against the Egyptians.

Enjoying full support from Consul General Ziad Atallah, the Lebanese were on the way after building their first sizeable lead at 24-14 on an undergoal stab by Al Eter.

The Lebanese offensive might was on full display in the fourth quarter and from 55-51 near the end of the third canto the score ballooned to 72-58 with 3:22 to play on a fadeaway jumper by Jag.

Promising young player Amir Muhannad finished with a game-high 36 points but failed to get support from the rest of the Egyptian team, which simply didn’t have the legs to keep pace with the fastbreak attack of the Lebanese.

The Lebanese and Western Union of coach Boy Corsega and John Rebulado clash at 7 p.m. Friday in Game 1 of their championship series.

In the nightcap Friday, Best Player Montejo scored 29 including the marginal points and Pascua and Amparado added 21 and 19 as Vicky & Sam’s Pride drew first blood in the Inter-Company A best-of-three championship against KIA Motors with a 76-75 victory.

Santiago led the KIA’s losing cause with 15 points, Jay Liam had 14 while Cutamora and Defensor each tallied 13 points.

The Inter-Company B knockout championship game was set after No. 1 Sweet Bloomer and No. 3 Al Mabani won their semifinals against fourth-ranked Sadia 69-56 and No. 1 Nesma Holding 109-105.

Defensor top-scored for Sweet Bloomer with 16 points, Reyes and Amparado, playing in 3 divisions, each had 14 and Arkanghel made 10 points.

Inter-Company D top seed Westside Beesline duly won its semifinal against JCF 83-81 but not after having to overcome a 6-point deficit at the halfway mark of the fourth quarter and getting the go-ahead basket from Yulop who finished on 25 points and was adjudged Best Player of the game.

For its opponent in the final, Westside now awaits the winner of the other semifinal between No. 2 Dar Jana, which won its final eliminations game vs. JCF 68-66 Thursday, and third semifinalist Freyssinet.

Elsewhere in the 18th week, No. 3 Jeddah Hilton qualified for the Inter-Hotel and Restaurant final by beating No. 2 New Cabalen Restaurant 82-80 on free throws by Montejo (34 points) in their semifinal match Thursday.

Jeddah Hilton plays either Durrat Al Arous or defending champion Uncle Majid Rice & Toppings of Francis Magat.

Uncle Majid, fighting to stay alive at No. 4 in the semifinals, stunned Durrat, with a twice to beat privilege as the unbeaten team, to score a thrilling 76-75 win in the fourth game Thursday.

With eight seconds to play, Durrat ahead by 1 at 74-73 and in ball possession Amparado was fouled, time down to seven seconds. He made his first free throw but missed the second and Uncle Majid grabbed the offensive rebound, Noy Magat passed to Reyes, who then spotted Geniza, and Geniza scored from under with a foul to boot. Geniza then sank the bonus shot to complete the three-point play with no time left and preserve Uncle Majid’s victory.

In the concluding elimination games in Inter-Company C, Junbarkads (Maharlikans) blasted Al Muhaidib 93-67 to finish as No. 1, while Lifestyle trounced Maaden (MGBM) 107-70 to be at No. 3.