Vipers, Stars advance in TFC Kingdom Cup

In an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation between the two sides with the best players in Jeddah, Friendster blinked to the Vipers during the game that mattered most in the TFC Kingdom Cup basketball tournament.
The Vipers watched Friendster crumble like a deck of cards in the last 2:02 to turn a tight game into a decisive 107-99 victory in Game 3 of the best-of-three series to decide the semifinal qualifier from the western region in the three months long competition featuring some of the big names in Filipino basketball in the Kingdom.
Stars also qualified during the last week of eliminations on Friday, closing out their own series after a 94-75 triumph over Blazers in the decider at the Al Yamama Sports Complex court. Stars won the series opener by 89-67 while the Blazers bounced back in the second game 78-77 to force Game 3.
The Stars demonstrated their readiness for the tough grind ahead in the decisive win against the Blazers thanks mainly to the trio of James Smith, Roel Asay and Sherwin Garcia.
Garcia and Smith emerged the best players during the Riyadh eliminations with total statistical points of 154 and 146 respectively.
Joining the Vipers and Stars in the double round robin home-and-away semifinals were Oilers who advanced the previous week by sweeping the series against Blazers.
The first game is set for today with the Oilers to host Stars at the Al Nahda Stadium in Dammam. Next Friday, the Oilers again play host to the FBA Vipers.
Joseph Ubalde enjoyed a double double performance of 26 points and 10 rebounds in addition to 4 shot blocks and 5 steals including one which he completed off Yoyong Akmad with 1:50 to play that sent the Vipers on the way to victory.
Before that play point guard Robby David’s free-throw actually started the venomous 12-2 run by the Vipers and dissolved the last deadlock at 95 and in which Friendster self-destructed with turnovers.
All told the deeper bench of the Vipers was the big difference — Ron Magat had his shooting touch back after an injury to finish with 24 points, David had 12 points and 6 assists and Ryan Aguam played tough defense and made 15 points to go with 6 assists, three rebounds and 4 steals including a big one off tall Mark Basa that he converted giving Vipers a six-point lead, 101-95, with 55 ticks left. Also, power forward Raymond Matias had 10 points and 6 rebounds for the Vipers team touted to have the younger players among the three qualifiers as it looks to go all the way to the championship under the guidance of veteran coach Boy Corsega and team manager Francis Magat.
Cris Melebo’s Friendster has had its moments, taking a 30-19 lead to close the first quarter and getting back in the game each time the Vipers would threaten to run away. Vipers head their first sizeable lead at 45-34 and a desperation three by Brian Adaya that swished the net put them ahead by 9 at 79-70 going into the final period.
Christian Guimpatan top-scored for the Friendster with 20 points, Jay Lim added 18 while Diego Domalogdog and Basa each had 14 points.
An overflow crowd came to watch the big game at the Sheraton Sports Complex court. Vipers leveled the series 96-90 last week after Friendster took the opener 100-92.