KSA - Flare Tip Project unbeaten in ARCC Cagefest

JUAYMAH CITY (ARCC Cagefest) - Anthony Alanano knew his contribution dipped in their previous games so he showed that he can still light up the scoreboard. And what a time to step up as the unbeaten Flare Tip Project drubbed the Team Admin, 85-66 in the basketball event as the on-going 5th Annual Al Rushaid Construction Company -EEI Corporation (ARCC-EEI) continues at the crowded Juaymah Camp in this city.

"We're intimidated at first since they assembled the best players in their department", said prized cager Alanano, who faced tough match-ups at the big forward position. "Every time I come across a strong challenge at the hard court I always apply my training during my school days as varsity player."

Truly enough, the soft-spoken cager from Surigao, Philippines quickly went to work as he scored 10 of his 25 total points in the first half.

"He (Alanano) played a monstrous inside-out game", remarked by Flare Tip Project Head Coach Al Jose M. Arsua, who promise to bring the championship trophy this time.

While it was Alanano who gave the momentum to his team in the early going, it's slasher Gilbert Janoplo who took the reins in the pivotal third period assault scoring 9 of his 11 points.

Samuel Daguman scored 16 points while play maker Ranulfo Arada, Armando Camagay, Octavio Olanda, U B. Torres and Jayson B. Narvaez combined for 24 points.

The team Admin tried their best to maneuver the game with swingman Noel Tejada, who thrilled the crowd with his acrobatic shots that frightened the Flare Tip five. Tejada poured in 23 points and responsible for breaking Abqaiq based dribbler's momentum in the early going, while rookie and the next big star Paul A. Nunez chipped in 24 points. Roel Nieto and Bryan Cruz had abysmal performance limiting with 4 and 6 points respectively.

In a game reduced to a free wheeling contest, the boys of Edwin T. Paragas and Al Jose M. Arsua proved to be sharper and deadlier as they used a big third quarter onslaught.

Showing no mercy, the Flare Tip Project five came through with several spurts and posted a 62-48 before the deciding quarter.

The boys of Joey J. Rosal and Richard Barry Cruz went defenseless against Flare Tip when hulking presence of Jeffrey Desamito and Pablo Yaco felt in the dying minutes of the match.

Despite the loss, head coach Richard Barry Cruz is very proud of his boys playing in this particular game as he quoted, "I have to give credit to my team and supporters specially to my players in spite of losing against Flare Tip, we were surprise and can not equalize to their big players, its not easy but we give them our best game".

Kim G. Cortez
Local correspondent in Asia