JEDDAH: Sixteen more teams made their debuts as Week 2 went full blast with eight games in the FBA (Filipino Basketball Association) 37th Season at the Sheraton Jeddah Hotel Sport Complex basketball court.

The headline game of the week Friday was the Tamimi Petro Rabigh-KIA in Category B.

Best Player Pagbilao shot a tournament-high 37 points, Napiza added 18 and Alcantara had 12 points and powerhouse Tamimi showed up 36th Conference Inter-Company A runner-up KIA to score a 86-83 victory in the second game Friday.

Barry Nader paced KIA with 22 points, Jay Liam contributed 15 and Mark Lagria had 8 points.

In the nightcap Friday, Ford Aljazirah hammered out a 65-60 victory over Twitch Mobile in Category C, as Best Player Sanchez, Mateo and Maglalang all scored identical 12 points. Silverio and Monding both scored 16 points while Manlangit had 10 for Twitch Mobile.

Kicking off Week 2 hostilities was Thursday’s first game between Uncle Majid and United Doctors Hospital where the Asian Fusion Cuisine restaurant won by 79-79 in Category D (Pool 1). Leading Uncle Majid was the eventual Best Player of the game Razon with 27 points. Cabawatan tallied 13 points and Alarcon made 11. For UDH the top scorers were Babero 10, Nader 12 and Soliverez 12.

D’barkadz Pilipinas also debuted with victory in Category C, beating Olive-Hanco 71-61 thanks mainly to the trio of Best Player Bathan, Mendoza and Balinan who scored 17, 11 and 9 points in that order. Olive-Hanco drew 17 points from Mitch, 12 from Naguit and 11 from Guantia.

New league entrant SITML, getting 20 points from Best Player Reyes, 13 from Fajardo and 11 from Estrella, brought down FBA old customer Freyssinet 78-66 in D2 category match. Cariaga was the top scorer at Freyssinet on 19 points, Dollero made 16 and Castillo had 14 points.

In the first game Friday, Fawri joined early winners in D (Pool 1) category by beating 3POL ACE 67-54. Ahmed was the main man at Fawri with 23 points, while at 3POL Espiritu tallied 12 points and Nabong and Cabrera had 10 apiece. Saudi Diyar was the other team to win from D (Pool 1) against Musalli Gold 66-65. Cheesecake Factory downed ALJ-CDC 66-55 I D3 Category.

The tournament is sponsored by Tim Hortons Café and Bake Shop, Fawri Money Transfer Services, Cebu Pacific and Manila Cuisine with support from Kabalikat Civicom KSA Chapter.

With FBA CEO and president Edgar Mendoza and Commisioner Noel Miguel running the show are: Admin/PR Director Jerry P. Lagrimas, Field Operations Director Robert Jose, Finance Director Jinkee Mendoza, Finance Admin Asst. Yuan Bondoc, and committee members Willy “Baliwag” Cartagena, Mario delos Santos and Jessie Sales. Rodolfo “Boy” Cornejo and Paul Antiporda are the advisers, Sheraton Jeddah Hotel Security Force is in charge of the peace and security while JOG (Jeddah Officiating Group) handles the tournament officiating.