NPC triumphs, Aramex downs Al-Kifah in Oilers Cup

The thrill and the excitement never stop in the 13th UFBF-FAEC Eastern Oilers Cup as the much-hyped encounter between two former champions — NPC and Clippers — battled in Division A-Premier league with the former winning 88-81 Friday at Al Qadisia sports gymnasium.
Two of the Eastern Province’s biggest names, ex-PBA players Melvin Mamaclay and Jessie Cabanayan, starred in a roller-coaster match to finish with 28 points each.
The lanky 6-foot-6 Mamaclay also had several rebounds and blocks that Clippers’ Matthew Qarney tried to stop without much success.
Ex-Angeles University Foundation stalwart Qarney was held to just 9 points the whole game and seemed to lack intensity – as with his Clippers team – except for ex-Pampanga Dragons Rulof Liangco who almost single-handedly rally the Clippers from a 15-point deficit midway in the third quarter with a 17-2 run to a 57-57 deadlock. Clippers even led by four 61-57 in the final 1:40 of that period after Riyadh-based Jaime Hernandez converted two foul shots.
Fahd Alireza Engineering Consultants is the tournament’s major sponsor. Al Hoty Group of Companies, Mohammad Dossary Hospital, 7-11 and Mega Construction are minor sponsors.
NPC led the first two quarters, 28-20 and 45-36, as Mamaclay-Cabanayan tandem was too hot to handle despite the best effort of the Clippers. “My boys just didn’t deliver when it mattered after finishing ahead by a point 61-60 entering the final quarter”, the dejected manager Sancho Sandoval said after the match.
Clippers’ Joey Navarro opened the fourth quarter with a short stab for a 63-60 edge but NPC battled back and took the lead with seven straight points from Cabanayan and Mamaclay for a 72-63 spread, 6:54 remaining. It was make-or-break for both teams reaching the final 2 minutes with Clippers making a rally and coming within three points 80-77 on Qarney’s undergoal shot.
But time and again, Cabanayan’s experience and better ball movement seemed unmatched as he scored the team’s last 6 points to Clipper’s four from Liangco and Qarney.
“We played without a legitimate point guard and we really have no chance to beat NPC with an experienced all-around player like Jessie,” said coach Arnold Haloc.
Veteran Ernie Baggay and rookie Macalalad each added 11 points, Ramesh Ordan made 4 points while Anthony Nabong had a day-off and was good for only 2 points. Liangco top-scored for Clippers with 26 points, Santiago had 13, Navarro finished with 10 points, Qarney had 9 and Riyadh dribblers Villanueva and Erwin Villafuerte combined for 13 markers.
In Inter-Company B Division, Aramex stopped Al-Kifah’s winning streak with a 92-86 victory.
Rookie Michael Hilario had a marvelous performance all night scoring 36 points teaming up with veterans Ervin Bayona (16 points) and Louie Delos Reyes (11 points) in a highly physical match that resulted in two Aramex technical fouls that almost cost them the game.
Tied at 86-86 all at exactly 26.14 ticks left in the last quarter, the cool-headed Hilario sank two charities and Bayona hit a driving layup to pull Aramex ahead by four 90-86 before a Bayona completed a steal set the final count.
Earlier game results: Gubat beat Dammam Gilas, 77-72, Marvels-1 won its second game against AFI, 82-71, MEBCO dumped Kabsa Tigers, 64-43, Metals thrashed Rawabi, 109-59 in Inter-company A, IECEP-ERC beat Al Hoty Co. 92-64 while Mega Construction was too strong for Bulusan 89-69.