Nesma Holding is looking to qualify for the semifinals as No. 1 by beating Sadia 72-63 in a lone Inter-Company Division B match during the 15th week in the Microsoft Lumia & 36th FBA Basketball Tournament at the Sheraton Jeddah Hotel court.

The victory gave Nesma a 6-1 win-loss record to close its elimination round schedule in the division with idle Sweet Bloomer (5-1) and Al-Mabani (5-2) also assured of spots in the next round. Sadia (4-3) and Bin DAwood (3-3) are contesting the fourth and final spot.

Best Player of the game Dula and Jay Liam scored 25 and 24 points respectively to lead Nesma to victory, while Abulencia added 11 points.

Junbarkads followed Rainbow Milk into the semifinals of the 10-team Inter-Company Division C after beating Maaden 97-85 in a win that raised their record to 6-1.

In a show of firepower Junbarkads had five players in double figures led by Best Players Yabes with 18 points. Tutuan came through with 15 points, while Bayona, Wahid and Asid had 13, 12 and 11 in that order.

Reloj led all scorers with 28 points in a losing cause for Maaden.

Highlighting the week was a pair of big games on Friday.

Egypt Selection kept its flickering final hopes alive at 3-2 in Inter-Commercial Open Rated Division by edging Avengers 61-60, as the hardworking Best Player Hamdy carried much of the load on 20 points. He was backed by Fadi Al Tawil with 8 points, Ismael 7 and Sherif 6 points.

And in Inter-Company Division A, it’s one down one to go for Vicky & Sam’s Pride after it turned back KIA Motors 98-90 in the nightcap Friday.

This result created a two-way tie at 3-2 between VSP and KIA, with only a game left for both teams.

Nemitz Dangao was named Best Player on 19 points although two players were way ahead of him in scoring namely Amparado with 30 points and Montejo with 25. Pascua had 14 points.

Four players finished in double figures at KIA with Liam on 25 points, Greason 18, Cutamora 17 and Santiago 14.

In the nightcap Thursday, Durrat Al Arous rumbled to its fourth straight win, 74-67 over Jeddah Hilton in the Inter-Hotel & Restaurant Division. In all likelihood Durrat will finish the eliminations unbeaten and earn a twice-to-beat edge in the semifinals.

The duo of Amparado and Dangao again delivered the lethal blows for Durrat with 30 and 17 points while Winston had 8 and Loyola 7. Again it was Dangao that emerged with Best Player of the game.

The Inter-Company D, which is expected to lag behind in the schedule with11-strong teams played five games at the weekend.

In the first game Thursydat, Huta won by default over Westside, Darjana downed Veolia Water 79-70, Toyota ALJ Leasing Co. crushed Legends 87-56, Saudi Ddiiyar beat McVitties 87-85 and Freyssinet downed JCF 86-83.

Microsoft Lumia is the major sponsor of the tournament organized in partnership with Team-Up Event Management headed by Mustafa Al-Saady and Rashad Barmada.

The tournament co-sponsors are House of Donuts (Nassier Group) of Samir Nassier, Halalat of Nawaf Tabah (PR Manager) and Centerpoint-Lifestyle & Parfumes Charriol Paris of Deo Francis Vistal and Elealo Janiola.