Samsung secured a berth in the final in the centerpiece Open Rated Division with a routine 73-61 victory over Avengers while the Sibuconians became the waiting team in the Inter-Commercial Division B championship series in the 1st LBC-Liga Pinoy Basketball Tournament at Ahmad Khaki Sports Complex (Orca) basketball court on Tahlia Street here.

Sibuconians won a tight battle against Promptness 64-52 and now awaits the winner of the Twitter Marogong-Bacolod Kalawi match for the start of the best-of-three series in the division.

Tutuan and Wahid each scored 13 points while Mamang added 12 for Sibuconians who scored their eighth win in nine games.

Gangling center De Joya scored 19 points, Robby David added 16 and Morsie Akad had 12 as Samsung kept its unbeaten record of 7-0.

Ixidar led Avengers with 19 points.

Samsung played Jeddah United Thursday night in a prestige match, both teams having qualified for the final where they meet in a best-of-three series.

In another thrilling game in the Inter-Commercial Division A, Jeddah Friends of Malik Ampuan defeated Jeddah Eagles 72-67 to set up a championship showdown with KFAFH (King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital), which beat them 96-69 in a non-bearing final game in the eliminations.

Jeddah Friends finished with double round robin eliminations on 7-1 and KFAFH on 6-2.

Barry Nader and Junaid each scored 15 points for Friends with Kader on 13 and Ampuan 12.

Hassan paced the Eagles with 20 points while Benzozou had 18.

In the Inter-Toyota tournament, Head Office team defeated Mega Center 71-69; Forklift routed Al Khumra 95-51, Prince Sultan beat JACS 87-73, Mega Al Jowhara downed ALJ Rehab 65-55 and NGFC won by default over Lexus.

LBC Express Inc. is the major sponsor of the tournament. Bryan Javier, LBC-KSA marketing specialist, helped facilitate the sponsorship.

The minor sponsors are Toyota, Mobily Globe, CEO & X Perfume of Rannie Basanta, Samsung through Muhaid Osman, promotion and development manager, Alicafé and Dole of Multibrands Al Ghadeer Al Arabia of Sheikh Jamal.

The BRG (Basketball Referees Group) of Lito Dela Cruz is in charge of the tournament officiating.


Pasiklaban 2013 Champions Cup

Meantime, Liga Pinoy in cooperation with the WPBL announced all is set for the Haj regional basketball exhibition games dubbed Pasiklaban 2013 Champions Cup.

Liga Pinoy Commissioner James Roxas said two teams each from Jeddah and Riyadh are to battle it out during the Haj regional set for Oct. 16 and 17.

Liga Pinoy’s Ramadan Eid champion Lanao-Leyte Paparoti and Riyadh All Star team plus host teams Samco Marogong and Friendster make up the four elite squads that will show their wares before an expected huge crowd of Filipino basketball aficionados.

Paparoti coach Louie Mulles is bringing along two fresh recruits from Manila to Jeddah while the visiting All Star from Riyadh will be handled by Lito Villanueva.

Also, Roxas said Inter-Muslim exhibition is also on tap with a selection from Riyadh coming down to Jeddah. Hyper Panda Maguindanao, United Tausug of Teddy Jamahali and Maranao Selection complete the roster of Muslim teams.