KSA - Al Tuwairqi Group dumps Sintec-Sogec

DAMMAM (EPBL) - Al Tuwairqi Group stopped the SINTEC-SOGEC, 87-73, and inched closer to the top of the standings at 4-1 in the Eastern Province Basketball League's Inter-Company Division here Friday.

Al Misehal Group and Isam Kabbani and Partners Group are the major sponsors of the Commissioners Cup supported by Hoshan Office Automation and Phuket Restaurant.

Tuwairqi veteran Albert Salado and Rene Vic Jalop came through with 22 and 21 points respectively to overcome Sintec's repeated rallies in a fierce duel at the Ettifaq Club.

With a close opening quarter where Sintec led, 18-17, Jalop made three steals and banged a three-pointer to help the Tuwairqi's hold a 46-36 halftime cushion.

At the start of the third, Sintec forward Benjie Canon and guard Edgar Evero ignited an 8-0 run to close the gap at 44-46 in a two minute span. Canon drilled in two triples and Evero converted an unmolested lay-up to stay contention. However, Al Tuwairqi rookie Arthur Aquino retaliated with a bank shot and guard Noel Mercado had a short stab to stop the Sintec attack 50-44 with 6:14 remaining in the period.

Sintec Manny Diegas and Roy Lirio kept the game tight in the closing minutes of the period, 62-59, to remain in striking distance.

Al Tuwairqi made sure this one wouldn't slip away. The team focused on defense and outscored Sintec, 25-14, in the fourth quarter.

Salado's inside play had no match for Sintec as the slotman scattered 8 points at the start of the final canto. Jalop had two fast breaks and Mercado wisely controlled the game's tempo.

Tuwairqi head coach Mon Hernandez was not impressed though with the showing of his boys, "This is not our game. We won but our defense needs to improve. Our boys were rattled once again everytime we run our key defensive strategy. We have to overcome this especially during big games. They may be tired but we have to stay focused for us to win again in our next game," Hernandez said.

Canon led Sintec with a career best 24 points and 6 rebounds while Ebero and Lirio had 23 and 13 points respectively.
Aquino and Mercado chipped in 13 and 8 points respectively while slasher Ricky Ibasco added 10 points for Al Tuwairqi.

In the Rated Class Division, Tirso Caling came off the bench to inspire ARCC-EEI in demolishing the defending champions COSMA, 91-63, in another sell-out crowd.

A fresh recruit, the 6'3" Caling had a monstrous 15-point, 18-rebound performance spoiling any run by COSMA in his EPBL debut.

Caling rose to the occasion with the pre-dominantly pro-ARCC crowd raucously appreciating his every shot and rebound. He scored 10 points in the third quarter and veteran Roberto Quiambao came up with several key plays down the stretch.

The win put the Erectors on top of the standings with a clean 3-0 win-loss slate while sending the defending champs to their first defeat in three outings.

After jumping to a 14-4 lead at the start, ARCC never looked back forcing COSMA coach Bong Ramos to call for an early time-out. This did not matter though as ARCC's Jordan dela Pena and Marvin Caling unleashed back-to-back baskets to keep a 20-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Erectors widened the gap in the second quarter with Quiambao and Tommy Reyes combining for a 10-2 run to lead at 30-12. COSMA's Gerald Mendoza sank a triple and a baseline jumper to make it 30-17 but ARCC regrouped again and Tirso Caling collected 8 rebounds in the stretch to take a commanding 23 point advantage, 45-22, at the half.

"I was amazed to see Caling grabbing those rebounds and I think that was the key for the ARCC win," Noriel Arevalo said.

ARCC outrebounded COSMA 41-25 and got more fastbreak points, 22-10.

The lead ballooned as much as 32 points in the third quarter 62-30.

ARCC continued to outmaneuver COSMA in the fourth in sustaining their impressive run.

Meanwhile, Saudi Paper continued their Cinderella run with a win against Al Falak 77-65; Mazda remains unbeated in five games after dispatching Dammam Central Hospital Dragons, 100-67; Saudi Techint outclassed Tanajib Gen. Co. 89-83; PSSE dumped Rizal Pirates 92-68 while the undermanned Al Hoty Group snatched their second win, 86-82, against Jarir Bookstore.

By Romeo O. Navidad
FIBA Correspondent in Saudi Arabia