Defending champion GCT Port Terminal also known as “Batang Pier” and easily the hottest team in this second conference brought down Andaluz 62- 58 in a pulsating at the weekend in the Boy Teves Basketball Tournament.
The tournament at the Time-out Sports Gymnasium on Television Street, Ghulail District on the outskirts of Jeddah enjoys the support of Al-Zugbi Sports Tailoring, Amaia Land, Pinoy Photographers Club (PPC), Art’s Cuisine and Time-out.
In an intense first quarter, both teams played well to end the quarter tied at 15-all. When the second quarter started, players in both camps showed their stuff especially Abad who muscled his way inside to the basket, Carreon with a three and a couple of fastbreaks and Nava who gave his best effort on both ends of the court for GCT Batang Pier to end the first half with a 32-27 lead.
Bonion, Defensor and Mendoza conspired to enable Andaluz to tie the game at 58 with 29 seconds to play but Abad hit a field goal and Nava converted two free throws to preserve the unbeaten record of GCT in the tournament.
Jefff Regondola made up for the absence of key players with a solid display to help Almarai beat Bupa 94-91.
Regondola, who scored four three-point shots, was the reason why they were ahead since the opening quarter until the start of the fourth quarter when Bupa made a tremendous run and tied the score at 91 with less than two minutes left in the game.
Regondola missed a three-point attempt but teammate Anado grabbed the offensive rebound, gave the ball back to Regondola who then saw an opening for a basket 93-91, time down to 29 seconds.
On the next trip Trinidad made a defensive stop resulting in a turnover and a split charity by Regondola after he was fouled to stop the clock.
In the Inter-Hospital, powerhouse ALJ Hosital suffered a defeat at the hands of hard working Nemitz Dangao and IMC 76-73.
With the win IMC ended its losing skid.
Dangao was fully supported by his big guy Rasheed Al-Hassan who also played well as IMC finished the third canto well ahead at 55-42.
Paul Taguba waxed hot by finishing fastbreak and the hot shooting of Yoyong Akmad in the mid range enabled ALJ to stay in the game with less than a minute to play.
But Dangao never gave up, took over for IMC hitting back-to-back baskets, while Nalagon and Garibay each hit a three to save the game for IMC which went through uneasy moments after Eric Mabarit converted his own consecutive threes in the waning seconds.
Andaluz stayed alive in the tournament as it trounced new team Alishar 68-43. Chosen best player was Bonbon Bonion who finished with 21 points.
Mahmoud Gharib defeated Al-Zamil 76-62 for its fourth straight victory. Compass posted back-to-back victories with a 70-61 triumph over Al-Zugbi.
Elsewhere, Toyota ousted winless Delta Water from the tournament with a 96-58 thrashing and Hidada finally tasted victory against Alishar 65-43.
GCT stays unbeaten; Almarai, IMC and Andaluz stay alive
