Zamil Group ends APEP run; Al Hoty Calibration, Satorp-Molave score

AL-KHOBAR: In a championship-like match, Zamil Group of manager Michael Garcia pounded on the injured-stricken APEP team, 86-79, ending the latter’s dominant run in Inter-Company A in the 15th UFBF Open Basketball tournament at the Al Qadisiyah Sports Gymnasium here.
But more than the Zamil notching their second close victory in as many games, this game was more about APEP dominating almost the entire tournament and showing that they are a solid title contender this season. However, Zamil sent a strong message to their rivals that they, too, are title favorite.
Harold Herrera had a double-double performance of 23 points and 11 rebounds and a steal to carry Zamil to an exciting victory. Ace guard Wilfred Molina added 17 markers and three other starters – Antonio Mara, Louie Villa and Jimmy Alzate – finished in double-digit scores as they badly beat APEP in rebounds, 47-26.
Lhito Bautista’s squad started the first quarter with Randy Sotto drawing first blood for APEP with a lay-up basket wanting to establish distance powered by a combined 14 points from James Chua, Ian Java and Ricardo Sotto and held a 14-4 lead after 6 minutes of play in the first quarter. However, momentum turned quickly for the Zamil Group after Herrera’s basket, followed by Alzate’s four points. Herrera then completed a three-point play off a James Bayangos’ foul as Emie Rex Ocba drained a long three to tie the game at 14-14, 1:53 minutes remaining in the period. Mara ended the first quarter with his first three-pointer, 19-17, for Zamil.
APEP struck an early tragedy as Randy Sotto exited the game with an injured left ankle due to a bad fall while making an attempt infront of his taller opponents. His teammate Chua then knotted the game at 19-all and grab the lead back with his bonus shot, 20-19, in under one minute of play of the second quarter. They even led 32-28 on Chua’s six consecutive free throw baskets and Ibrahim Naif and Ricardo Sotto added five more points, 3:03 minutes to go. Zamil’s Herrera, Alzate, Molina and Villa immediately did the damage as they spearheaded a 14-2 run, 42-34, 26:8 ticks left at the half.

Coached by Rex Nicanor, Zamil’s lead dwindled to just two points, 71-73, 4:06 minutes left in the last quarter on Bayangos’ consecutive layup shots, and by a point 77-78 after Ricardo Sotto’s basket with the clock down to just 1:23 minutes. But Mara, playing a spoiler’s game for Zamil, nailed another three-pointer deep down at the right corner for an 81-77 lead and Herrera stole the ball and split his free throw off a Bayangos’ foul that left their foes gasping, 82-77, 42 seconds left in the game.
Al Hoty Calibration surprisingly beat the Dammam Spartan, by a big margin 81-65, in Junior D5-B.
Carlos Baguna led the Calibrators with 22 points, Johnray Quinto added 21 while former member of the defunct Masculados’ all-male group, Ailex Glinoga, finished with 19 points. Bong Arevalo, Larry Ventura and Joey Alba combined for 14 points while ace guard Lester Respicio moved the ball so well and added 3 markers.
The Calibrators raced to a 19-2 in the opening salvo thanks to Quinto, Baguna and Glinoga. Showing no remorse to the opponent’s lackluster performance, the Calibrators kept its offensive firepower going behind Quinto’s unstoppable drives, Baguna’s inside perimeter shooting and Glinoga’s tremendous hustle as they built a commanding 26-point lead end of first quarter, 33-7, on Glinoga’s buzzer-beating three-pointer.
The Calibrators pounded the Spartans even more 40-11 in the second quarter to take a huge 50-25 advantage at the half, and again finished the third quarter on top, 62-44, and never looked back.
Satorp-Molave scored another convincing victory beating Cyber Dudes 1, 93-75, in Junior D-4. Former MVP Mark Vergara led the pack with yet another sterling performance exploding for 32 points, including 6 triples. He was ably backed by Ireneo Racacho who wounded up with 17 markers and 10 rebounds while Boggie Patinio, Lyndon Sandico and Erwin Solomon added 14, 12 and 8 points respectively.