JEDDAH: Team Pilipinas-Social Café avenged one of its two losses in the tournament to Jeddah United, winning their match in the final 66-63 on Thursday, and a bumpy ride ended in a happy ending for the gritty Filipinos as they emerged back-to-back champions in the 2nd Open Intercultural Basketball Tournament.

The Filipinos took a stinging 82-69 defeat vs. the Lebanese community basketball team to open their title defense, struggled to victories against Syriana-IKK and Egypt, won by forfeiture against the Saudis and lost their final game in the eliminations against Jeddah United 72-67.

Getting back to form, Team Pilipinas routed Egypt community basketball team 85-67 in the semifinals to set up a title clash against Jeddah United, which eliminated Syriana 55-54 on a three-pointer by Talal Al-Johani from the left corner with 6.4 ticks to play.

Obaid Madani’s Jeddah United was looking to complete a seven-game title sweep against Team Pilipinas of coach Francis Magat at its spanking new home court in Al-Shati district here.

Instead, the young Jeddah United team handled by American coach Noufal Uariachi fell victim to the smothering 1-3-1 zone defense applied by Team Pilipinas sponsored by Saudi businessman Abdullah Al-Zahrani and lost the big match despite a monster game (32 points) from Mohannad Amir.

Ziyad Pascual, taking charge at the point with authority, scored 14 points, Mursie Akad had 13 and Christian Guimpatan added 10 as Team Pilipinas pulled away in the second quarter to lead by as many as 13 points, but had to repel the host team’s comeback in the final half to get the win.

The Filipino team enjoyed its first substantial lead at 28-20 in the second quarter that ended 41-32 in its favor. A 6-2 tear to start the third period on free throws by Ziyad and a pair of Tom Basa baskets had Pilipinas pulling further away at 47-34.

But Mohannad, a promising young talent, single-handedly hauled JU back into the game, scoring all but two points in a 15-2 rally that tied the score at 49-all before the hosts took a 56-55 lead into the fourth quarter.

Pilipinas opened a five-point lead, 65-60, with four minutes left in the high intensity game on sallies by Akad and Guimpatan that cushioned the victory to the delight of its throng of supporters, among them, leaders of the Filipino basketball community namely Noel Miguel and Robert Jose of FCBL (Filipino Community Basketball League), Eric Abrantes of ISA (Industrial Sports Association), Teng Laguialam and Ogie Nucum of Filsama Basketball League (FBL) and Jimmy Abdullah Beltran.

Syriana of Hassan Zeineddein blasted Egypt 61-47 in the game for third-place in the six-team six-week long tournament where Social Cafe top honcho Al-Zahrani donated the trophies.

Event Manager Mohammad Shobain and Consultant-adviser Mohamed Bayoumi awarded the champion trophy to Team Pilipinas-Social Café, ACTS-OFW party-list Congressman Venecio Legaspi the runner-up trophy to Jeddah United and Coach Mona Alothman the third-place trophy to Syriana during the prize distribution ceremony. Obaid and Lina Almaeena, founders of Jeddah United Sports Company, attended the finale.

Team Pilipinas’ Joseph Ubalde was again the tournament MVP (Most Valuable Player). Named to the mythical five selection were Best Guards Ziyad and Ron Magat (Social Cafe), Best Forwards Jojo Pascua (Social Café) and Mohannad (Jeddah United) and Best Center Salman Saleh (Jeddah United).