The back end of the 10th week actions last Friday produced riveting matches with Western Union and Al Saady Trading, both coming off losses, bouncing back in a big way in the Microsoft Lumia & 36th FBA Basketball Tournament at the Sheraton Jeddah Hotel court.

Western Union in the Inter-Commercial Open Rated Division raced to a 17-6 start but had to overcome a second quarter challenge from Avengers before securing a 97-75 victory to set the tone of the evening.

Al Saady turned back a pesky Vicky & Sam’s Pride 77-69 in a strong Inter-Company Division A contest that hung in the balance until the closing minutes and with missed crucial free throws nearly costing Saady the game.

Denden Amir atoned for his four earlier free-throw misses with a putback of a second free-throw by Yoyong Akmad that eased pressure off Saady, 73-69, time down to 61 seconds. Vicky & Sams’s turned the ball over on the next play and its starting guard Fuentes committed his fifth foul on Amir who converted both free throws for 75-69 with 45 ticks to play.

Amir who along with Akmad and Diego Domalogdog gave Saady a 21-point second quarter lead at 33-12 finished the night on 11 points and was adjudged Best Player of the game. Mark Lagria scored 21, Akmad added 13 and Bary Nader tallied 8 points for Saady whose manager Jimmy Abdullah Beltran became tense after VSP starring Montejo (34 points) wiped out Saady’s big spread and even led by 10 points, 56-46, in the third period.

But Saady regained the initiative near the end of the third period at 61-58 behind Akmad. In the fourth quarter at the 4-minute mark Saady started to be hounded by poor shooting from the free-throw line but then managed to keep VSP at bay after it plugged holes on defense.

The victory was the second in three games for Saady whose sponsorship in this tournament was facilitated by Sinan E. Al Saady, managing director ALJ Land Holding Abdul Latif Jameel Co. Ltd. and owner/CEO of Al Saady Trading Co.

Best Player Joseph Ubalde frolicked in the paint and had 23 points while Ron Magat added 27 to lead the Western Union (2-2) which saw its early advantage dwindle to 41-39 at halftime.

With point guard Zyad Pascual directing the plays, Western Union heaved sigh of relief with a 61-48 lead with under three minutes left in the third quarter on a fastbreak basket by Ubalde.

Morsie Akad contributed 15 points, Christian Guimpatan had 15 and Salman added 8 points including an exclamation point slamdunk, 81-60, with 5:04 left in the payoff period.

In an equally strong match in the Inter-Commercial Non-Rated Division, Al Muhaidib brought down Silencer 86-76 in the second game Friday. Best Player Romero led four players in double figures for Muhaidib on 24 points followed by Vizcayno 7, Sanchez 14 and Padernal 10.

Huta had mixed results of its weekend doubleheader, winning against JCF 67-56 in the first game Friday after losing its Thursday match against Freyssinet 83-81 in the Inter-Company Group D Division.

In another Group D match, JCF defeated Toyota Forklift 61-55 for its second win in three games.

In the nightcap Friday, Jeddah Hilton Hotel with Encina topscoring with 41 points and the trio of Montejo, Pascua and Del Rio adding 20, 12 and 10 beat Cabalen 95-84.

Elsewhere, its Sadia 63 Default 44 (Inter-Company B), Junbarkads 82 AVK 75 (Inter-Company C) and Saudi German Hospital 63 Toyota ALJ-Leasing Co. 57 (Inter-Company C).