OFBL: Toyota, Firewind clinch title series openers

Friday the 22nd was a lucky day for sister teams Toyota and ALJ Hospital campaigning in different divisions in the Boy Teves Basketball Tournament organized by Overseas Filipino Basketball League (OFBL) at Time-out Sports Academy gymnasium on Television Street, Ghulail District on the outskirts of Jeddah.
Toyota set the tone of the evening, beating PSI 97-88 in the first game of their best-of-three series for the Inter-Company Bonafide B championship.
Jimmy Abdullah Beltran’s ALJ squad then blasted King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital to smithereens 100-83 in what could well be a preview of their own best-of-three for the Inter-Hospital championship. It was the sixth win in seven games for ALJ.
Both teams are coached by Camelo Ibrahim Melendez.
The Friday Morning Division title series also started last Friday with Jeddah Pards also known as Firewind beating Centerpoint 81-71.
Montano Dela Cruz was fully charged to score 21 points in an all-around performance for Toyota and become the best player of the game. Llamado supported him with 19 points including a cold blooded 3-pointer when PSI made a rally late in the fourth period.
Both teams went back-and-forth in the early going of the first quarter and PSI kept itsef alive with multiple offensive boards that it converted into points.
Limbo and Sangalia combined for 19 points while Lat drained a triple to finish the quarter 18-22. Dela Cruz snatched the ball and scored easy basket to open the second quarter.
Montano and the Toyota boys tightened their defense with a full court press and Paul Taguba enjoyed a good game hitting one fastbreak after another.
Taguba tallied 9 and along with Nap Peredo’s triple gave Toyota a 46-31 first half lead, but Erik Mabarit showed his daredevil moves and got some bonus points.
Baluyot gave PSI a ray of hope, manning the paint to scored a bundle of points as his team got back in the game 67-60 going into the final quarter.
PSI boys continued their attack in the final period until the last five minutes when Toyota regrouped as Llamado became unstoppable on fast breaks, scoring four unanswered points while Taguba converted four free throws off consecutive fouls by Baluyot to seal game 1.
The reigning champion team GCT Batang Pier eliminated Bupa with an 81-71 victory Thursday night and in the process finished the eliminations with an unblemished record of 7-0.
Abad shot 10 points in the fourth quarter. He and Carreon combined for 29 points as GCT earned a twice to beat edge in the semifinals.
Double B avenged its previous defeat to great rival Tawzea Water with an 88-78 triumph and the best player was Cabahel with 23 points.
Al-Zamil and Catubig brothers once again carried their team in an exciting game against Alishar, winning by 86-75.
OBS defeated Dabarkadz 88-78 in the other game.