FIBA Basketball
KSA - FMQ Sons Co, Phuket Restaurant score emphatic win
DAMMAM (EPBL)- It took extra five minutes before FMQ Sons Company finally scored its first win in the elimination round of the 19th Open Conference of the Eastern Province Basketball League at the crowded Al Ettifaq Sports Club in this city
DAMMAM (EPBL)- It took extra five minutes before FMQ Sons Company finally scored its first win in the elimination round of the 19th Open Conference of the Eastern Province Basketball League at the crowded Al Ettifaq Sports Club in this city.
Drawing big games from Julius Ceazar Blay and Gilbert Giangan, the Pipeline Specialists outlasted Nesma Contracting in a thrilling battle down the stretch for an 89-85 overtime win.
Facing the prospect of another meltdown, Blay rose to the occasion, knocking down a huge three-point shot that put them on top for good, 85-81, with less than 20 ticks left.
Blay's trey was enough to atone himself after flubbing two crucial free throws in the waning moments of regulation. He finished with a season-high 17 points.
He also had six assists and three steals in 35 minutes of action in what could be his finest performance so far in this long tournament. His awesome show also made up for the distressing performance of former American University-Beirut standout Mustafah Saidi who was held scoreless in 12 minutes of play.
While Romeo Bautista, Jericho Azucena and Allen Noynay's repeatedly shattered Nesma's defense with their wide array of moves, the 6-foot-1 Ramon Dalupang was a tower of power in the shaded lane, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. His strong inside plays was felt in overtime where he scattered six points and helped foil several Nesma plays.
"Finally, we got one. I have to give credit to Blay who came through with that huge basket," said a visibly relieved coach Rick Dela Cruz. "Our previous games were a puzzle for me but the boys did not give up, they really persevered and worked so hard."
"I hope we can sustain our winning formula till the final," said Dela Cruz, who confessed that their remaining games would be like passing through the needle's eye.
The two squads engaged each other in a see-saw battle towards the end and Nesma appeared headed to victory after taking a 75-72 lead. But playing-coach Rene Manuel, who ignited an earlier rally after scoring two consecutive triples, turned from hero to goat when he committed successive turnovers, leaving FMQ a golden opportunity to turn the game around.
Nesma's Saidi topped all scorers with 30 points, while Joel Penaloza and Marl Carl Valencia chipped in 12 and 10 points.
Giangan led the FMQ with 20 points while Russell Barrio, Vic Bolado and Alvin Balajadia combined for 27 points.
In lone division C match-up, Phuket Restaurant refused to collapse this time as the Restaurateurs claimed another victim in SAPMT-Abqaiq, 85-78, and kept their flickering title hopes alive.
Getting quality minutes from its bench, the boys of Kwanchai Keekhongdern and Gerry Lumague outrun and outplayed the Abqaiq-based dribblers in practically all departments to post their first back-to-back win.
"We complimented our solid defense with our good shooting. But I'm happy with our win, at least we proved that we have the heart," said coach Dong Bautista.
The Phuket five took a 64-59 lead early in the third quarter but SAPMT, led by rookie Joel Timbang and Erwin Solomon, managed to level at 67-all. But that proved to be the best SAPMT could do as veteran wingman Willy Solano hit a side jumper, while Jonas Mendoza and Erwin Mallari capped the third quarter salvo with their booming inside-out attacks for a 78-71 lead in the dying minutes of the match.
Timbang scored almost at will in the first three quarters but was limited to just three points in the fourth. He wound up with 25 points in a performance that drew raves from Bautista.
But the big letdown for SAPMT was the measly output of Resty Ramirez, Jorex Laurente and Michael So. The explosive trio combined only for only 24 points.
Reynan Guinoo was especially hot in the fourth as he canned 11 points to finish with 38 points. He was ably supported by Renante Ruiz and Lloyd Alagasi who tallied 10 points each.
In the much-awaited battle in the premier category, the Consultants of Arabian Consulting Engineering Centre mercilessly dumped Al Nahda Saudi Club via a 99-88 drubbing.
Slumping ace Ishnoor Manabilang regained his shooting touch and finished with 21 points while Nolram Aquino and Lebanese sensation Adel Kaddoura chipped in 17 and 11 points, respectively. Slasher Allan De Castro and Eduard Canete contributed from the perimeter with 10 points apiece.
Al Nahda's point production took a dip with the absence of its fearsome foursome, Fahad Ali, Issa Al Hanwa, Fahad Al Drees and Yaseen Mubarak. Without the four stars, the short-handed Al Nahda could not match up against the firepower of the Engineering giant.
Al Nahda's Faiz Al Dossary topped all scorers with 28 points, while Turki Hassan and Abdullah Kardi contributed 19 and 14 respectively.
In other game results, Haji Alireza-Mazda edged Haier Rockets, 89-85; UMA-Envoy beat Bigen Prominous, 83-78; ARCC-EEI trounced Kudu Restaurant, 81-75; while SFCCL-Jubail whipped Phuket Restaurant, 111-93, in Division II Rated B Class.
Kim G. Cortez
Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Drawing big games from Julius Ceazar Blay and Gilbert Giangan, the Pipeline Specialists outlasted Nesma Contracting in a thrilling battle down the stretch for an 89-85 overtime win.
Facing the prospect of another meltdown, Blay rose to the occasion, knocking down a huge three-point shot that put them on top for good, 85-81, with less than 20 ticks left.
Blay's trey was enough to atone himself after flubbing two crucial free throws in the waning moments of regulation. He finished with a season-high 17 points.
He also had six assists and three steals in 35 minutes of action in what could be his finest performance so far in this long tournament. His awesome show also made up for the distressing performance of former American University-Beirut standout Mustafah Saidi who was held scoreless in 12 minutes of play.
While Romeo Bautista, Jericho Azucena and Allen Noynay's repeatedly shattered Nesma's defense with their wide array of moves, the 6-foot-1 Ramon Dalupang was a tower of power in the shaded lane, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. His strong inside plays was felt in overtime where he scattered six points and helped foil several Nesma plays.
"Finally, we got one. I have to give credit to Blay who came through with that huge basket," said a visibly relieved coach Rick Dela Cruz. "Our previous games were a puzzle for me but the boys did not give up, they really persevered and worked so hard."
"I hope we can sustain our winning formula till the final," said Dela Cruz, who confessed that their remaining games would be like passing through the needle's eye.
The two squads engaged each other in a see-saw battle towards the end and Nesma appeared headed to victory after taking a 75-72 lead. But playing-coach Rene Manuel, who ignited an earlier rally after scoring two consecutive triples, turned from hero to goat when he committed successive turnovers, leaving FMQ a golden opportunity to turn the game around.
Nesma's Saidi topped all scorers with 30 points, while Joel Penaloza and Marl Carl Valencia chipped in 12 and 10 points.
Giangan led the FMQ with 20 points while Russell Barrio, Vic Bolado and Alvin Balajadia combined for 27 points.
In lone division C match-up, Phuket Restaurant refused to collapse this time as the Restaurateurs claimed another victim in SAPMT-Abqaiq, 85-78, and kept their flickering title hopes alive.
Getting quality minutes from its bench, the boys of Kwanchai Keekhongdern and Gerry Lumague outrun and outplayed the Abqaiq-based dribblers in practically all departments to post their first back-to-back win.
"We complimented our solid defense with our good shooting. But I'm happy with our win, at least we proved that we have the heart," said coach Dong Bautista.
The Phuket five took a 64-59 lead early in the third quarter but SAPMT, led by rookie Joel Timbang and Erwin Solomon, managed to level at 67-all. But that proved to be the best SAPMT could do as veteran wingman Willy Solano hit a side jumper, while Jonas Mendoza and Erwin Mallari capped the third quarter salvo with their booming inside-out attacks for a 78-71 lead in the dying minutes of the match.
Timbang scored almost at will in the first three quarters but was limited to just three points in the fourth. He wound up with 25 points in a performance that drew raves from Bautista.
But the big letdown for SAPMT was the measly output of Resty Ramirez, Jorex Laurente and Michael So. The explosive trio combined only for only 24 points.
Reynan Guinoo was especially hot in the fourth as he canned 11 points to finish with 38 points. He was ably supported by Renante Ruiz and Lloyd Alagasi who tallied 10 points each.
In the much-awaited battle in the premier category, the Consultants of Arabian Consulting Engineering Centre mercilessly dumped Al Nahda Saudi Club via a 99-88 drubbing.
Slumping ace Ishnoor Manabilang regained his shooting touch and finished with 21 points while Nolram Aquino and Lebanese sensation Adel Kaddoura chipped in 17 and 11 points, respectively. Slasher Allan De Castro and Eduard Canete contributed from the perimeter with 10 points apiece.
Al Nahda's point production took a dip with the absence of its fearsome foursome, Fahad Ali, Issa Al Hanwa, Fahad Al Drees and Yaseen Mubarak. Without the four stars, the short-handed Al Nahda could not match up against the firepower of the Engineering giant.
Al Nahda's Faiz Al Dossary topped all scorers with 28 points, while Turki Hassan and Abdullah Kardi contributed 19 and 14 respectively.
In other game results, Haji Alireza-Mazda edged Haier Rockets, 89-85; UMA-Envoy beat Bigen Prominous, 83-78; ARCC-EEI trounced Kudu Restaurant, 81-75; while SFCCL-Jubail whipped Phuket Restaurant, 111-93, in Division II Rated B Class.
Kim G. Cortez
Dammam, Saudi Arabia