Stage set for Nunungan-Carrier final in Friendi Open Rated cagefest

The stage was set for the Inter-Commercial Open Rated Division final after Nunungan Lanao Lakers brought down Shadow Lounge 89-78 in a game that completed consecutive weekends of tough matches for the Lakers in the 1st Friendi Basketball Tournament presented by all new WPBL at the Ahmed Khaki Sports Complex (Orca) court here.
The victory came a week after Nunungan beat Carrier Juffali 107-66 putting the former tied with the latter at 3-1 in the team standings and paving the way for a best-of-three finals between the two powerhouse teams in the division.
Commissioner Frank James Roxas said the championship games will be played in two weeks’ time.
After a fast start Nunungan had to weather a fierce Shadow Lounge comeback in the third quarter to get the victory in another testy evening against a team whose own hopes of reaching the final had been hurt by defeats in its first two games.
Nunungan ended the quarter ahead by six, 66-60, on a baseline drive by JR Piedra to get itself strongly back in the game after Shadow Lounge had appeared to be in control when it dropped a 14-0 bomb to start the period courtesy of gangling Senegalese center Mohammed Jouf, Ryan Aguam amd Eborda.
That put Shadow Lounge back on top at 50-47 from 47-36 only for Nunungan to stem the tide in its favor for good in the fourth period when fatal defensive mistakes by SL allowed easy baskets by Jay Liam and Christian Guimpatan. After a rebound basket by Fil-Am James Smith gave Nunungan a 76-66 lead with 5:41 to play Piedra answered a twinner by Aguam with a completed three-point play for 79-68, and the tough-defending Lanao marched on to victory.
Guimpatan finished the night with 22 points, Smith scored 21, Piedra had 11 while Diego Domalogdog and Liam added 9 and 8 points, respectively. Roby David led Shadow Lounge with 19 points while Jouf and Aguam each made 16.
During the tournament’s ninth week, Nesma Holdings got the big baskets from Best Player of the game Catubig as it stayed perfect after four games in the Inter-Commercial Open Non Rated C by beating Shakba Makkah 87-82 in the fourth game Friday.
Nesma’s win came after unbeaten Greenland blasted Amanah 115-64 to tie Nesma at 4-0.
In the nightcap Friday, Sultanate Masiu did not disappoint its VIP guest and benefactor, Congressman Hussein “HPP” Pacasum Pangandaman of First District of Lanao Del Sur, when it edged out Friendi Moble 111-110 in a thrilling Open Non Rated B game. Pangandaman was accompanied to the court by Trade Attache Faisal Abdullah of the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah.
In the same division, Binladin D’ Inspectors scored a come-from-behind 89-72 victory against Petromin Oils which saw its two-game winning streak end.
In another Open Non Rated C game, BTC-Baud Telecom Co. downed Shakba Makkah 89-72.
In the 10th KFAFH Inter-Department organized by United Filipino Workers of King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital (UFWORK), Portering and Enginering defeated HRD 74-62 and Nursing 57-38 in games Thursday, while Dietary crushed CSSD 93-62 and Warehouse downed Admin 98-84 in the Friday twinbill.