FIBA Basketball
KSA - Al Hoty, Al Nahda thriller in EPBL
DAMMAM (EPBL) - Al Hoty Group just played hard enough to reap a cogent win over Al Fallak System Solution, 103-80, in the 19th Eastern Province Basketball League (EPBL) at the crowded Al Ettifaq Indoor Gymnasium
DAMMAM (EPBL) - Al Hoty Group just played hard enough to reap a cogent win over Al Fallak System Solution, 103-80, in the 19th Eastern Province Basketball League (EPBL) at the crowded Al Ettifaq Indoor Gymnasium.
Inspired by their new recruit, Al Hoty five played a relaxed game in the first two quarters before stepping on the gas in the third to rip the game wide open and finished the match on a high note.
Saudi-import Ahmed Ashawa drilled in important basket with several acrobatic shots and earth-sacking dunks in the match that shocks the powerful Al Fallak squad.
Al Fallak coach Duane Sta. Ana is not intimidated. The Al Hoty, for one, are out to erase the stigma they suffered last conference where they lost their game in so many outings including their campaign as Rookie team of the conference.
"The boys are raring to settle an old score with Al Hoty team. They really want a revenge battle," said Sta. Ana. "We have to prepare really hard."
The win likewise boosted Al Hoty's confidence going into the semis. "We need this win going to the semis," said Coach Red Asuncion who leaned on the razzle-dazzle performance of Ashawa and slasher Nelson Sambajon in the third to pull away for good.
The Al Hoty took a slim 70-63 lead at the start of the final canto but their power plays can't match the gasping Al Fallak five when two of their ace defenders Danilo Dionisio and Danilo Peleo fouled out in the crucial setting of the match. With that Hoty five took advantage Al Fallaks's downfall through the efforts of Ashawa, Sambajon, Dick Calub and Manny Maala, who combined for 88 points of the team's 23-point explosion.
Ashawa was especially hot in the first three quarter as he drained four triples to finish with 38 points while Bong Arevalo and Ramil Destacamento took charge in the fourth to scuttle Al Fallak's comeback bid.
Earl Sta. Ana led Al Fallak with 21 points, while Ruel Poliquit and Mohammed Thikralla chipped in 19 and 17 points respectively.
In another battle featuring the best cagers in town, the Al Nahda Saudi Club snapped a four-game losing skid after dumping erstwhile conqueror Phuket Restaurant, 100-89 thrilling battle in the Premier division.
The all-Saudi team of Al Nahda overcame a slow start and beat the seemingly-invincible Phuket Restaurant.
Down by 73-71 at the end of third period, the Al Nahda slowly inched closer when Saudi National team member Fahad Ali and tower power Saeed Al Bader started to hit their treys. But it was the explosive performance of Fahad Al Drees, in the final minutes that sealed the victory for the Al Nahda Club.
Trailing at 91-83, Al Drees heroics started when he canned all his two free throws and hustle the Restaurateur, defying 6'9 Saudi sensation Ahmad Samater who teamed up with ex-NCAA PCU Dolphins Omar Asmad who provided the muscles and leveled the game shown by the Al Nahda Club.
But the hungry to win Al Nahda squad gripped their 8 point deficit to come out victorious and received tremendous applause and respect from the crowd who witnessed the highly physical match between the two finest team in the EPBL history.
Fahad Ali topped all scorers with 31 points. Al Bader added 21 points while Adrees and Faisal Al Somali contributed 14 and 11 points respectively. The come backing Essa Al-Hanwa chipped in 10 points for Al Nahda.
Samater led Phuket with 28 points, while Asmad and Arthur Palima scored 18 points apiece for Phuket while play maker Louie Dela Cruz chipped in 15 points.
"I'm sure they will take us seriously this time", said former Saudi National team coach and Al Nahda's mentor Ali Zahrani whose team was beaten by Phuket but a wide margin during their first encounter. "We'll be very very tough to beat when all our players are in", he added as if giving warning to their opponents.
Other game results, ACEC-D' Consultants outplayed Haier Rockets 102-97 for Division C, Carlson Forwarders smashed SFCCL - Jubail 94-89 in Division II, Haji Alireza - Mazda trounced Sapmt-Abqaiq 71-63, Jarir Bookstore defeated Saudi Paper Company 77-47, Panda Markets whipped JAL International 74-60 while SFCCL out-scored the undermanned Arcan Vita with 79-75.
Kim G. Cortez
Official FIBA Correspondent in Saudia Arabia
Inspired by their new recruit, Al Hoty five played a relaxed game in the first two quarters before stepping on the gas in the third to rip the game wide open and finished the match on a high note.
Saudi-import Ahmed Ashawa drilled in important basket with several acrobatic shots and earth-sacking dunks in the match that shocks the powerful Al Fallak squad.
Al Fallak coach Duane Sta. Ana is not intimidated. The Al Hoty, for one, are out to erase the stigma they suffered last conference where they lost their game in so many outings including their campaign as Rookie team of the conference.
"The boys are raring to settle an old score with Al Hoty team. They really want a revenge battle," said Sta. Ana. "We have to prepare really hard."
The win likewise boosted Al Hoty's confidence going into the semis. "We need this win going to the semis," said Coach Red Asuncion who leaned on the razzle-dazzle performance of Ashawa and slasher Nelson Sambajon in the third to pull away for good.
The Al Hoty took a slim 70-63 lead at the start of the final canto but their power plays can't match the gasping Al Fallak five when two of their ace defenders Danilo Dionisio and Danilo Peleo fouled out in the crucial setting of the match. With that Hoty five took advantage Al Fallaks's downfall through the efforts of Ashawa, Sambajon, Dick Calub and Manny Maala, who combined for 88 points of the team's 23-point explosion.
Ashawa was especially hot in the first three quarter as he drained four triples to finish with 38 points while Bong Arevalo and Ramil Destacamento took charge in the fourth to scuttle Al Fallak's comeback bid.
Earl Sta. Ana led Al Fallak with 21 points, while Ruel Poliquit and Mohammed Thikralla chipped in 19 and 17 points respectively.
In another battle featuring the best cagers in town, the Al Nahda Saudi Club snapped a four-game losing skid after dumping erstwhile conqueror Phuket Restaurant, 100-89 thrilling battle in the Premier division.
The all-Saudi team of Al Nahda overcame a slow start and beat the seemingly-invincible Phuket Restaurant.
Down by 73-71 at the end of third period, the Al Nahda slowly inched closer when Saudi National team member Fahad Ali and tower power Saeed Al Bader started to hit their treys. But it was the explosive performance of Fahad Al Drees, in the final minutes that sealed the victory for the Al Nahda Club.
Trailing at 91-83, Al Drees heroics started when he canned all his two free throws and hustle the Restaurateur, defying 6'9 Saudi sensation Ahmad Samater who teamed up with ex-NCAA PCU Dolphins Omar Asmad who provided the muscles and leveled the game shown by the Al Nahda Club.
But the hungry to win Al Nahda squad gripped their 8 point deficit to come out victorious and received tremendous applause and respect from the crowd who witnessed the highly physical match between the two finest team in the EPBL history.
Fahad Ali topped all scorers with 31 points. Al Bader added 21 points while Adrees and Faisal Al Somali contributed 14 and 11 points respectively. The come backing Essa Al-Hanwa chipped in 10 points for Al Nahda.
Samater led Phuket with 28 points, while Asmad and Arthur Palima scored 18 points apiece for Phuket while play maker Louie Dela Cruz chipped in 15 points.
"I'm sure they will take us seriously this time", said former Saudi National team coach and Al Nahda's mentor Ali Zahrani whose team was beaten by Phuket but a wide margin during their first encounter. "We'll be very very tough to beat when all our players are in", he added as if giving warning to their opponents.
Other game results, ACEC-D' Consultants outplayed Haier Rockets 102-97 for Division C, Carlson Forwarders smashed SFCCL - Jubail 94-89 in Division II, Haji Alireza - Mazda trounced Sapmt-Abqaiq 71-63, Jarir Bookstore defeated Saudi Paper Company 77-47, Panda Markets whipped JAL International 74-60 while SFCCL out-scored the undermanned Arcan Vita with 79-75.
Kim G. Cortez
Official FIBA Correspondent in Saudia Arabia