FIBA Basketball
KSA - Hugayet win IBL crown anew
AL KHOBAR (IBL) - Faith gave them first strength, then a place in the league history in the Eastern Region. Getting big boost from their main stars in their knock out game, the Project Management Team (PMT - Hugayet) completed it with destiny as the Abqaiq
AL KHOBAR (IBL) - Faith gave them first strength, then a place in the league history in the Eastern Region.
Getting big boost from their main stars in their knock out game, the Project Management Team (PMT - Hugayet) completed it with destiny as the Abqaiq based dribblers scored a pulsating 67-64 win over El Bicolano and ruled the 3rd IBL basketball tournament at the crowded International Philippine School in Al Khobar (IPSA) multi-purpose gym in this bustling city.
"Faith gave us the strength and to work hard and to believe in ourselves. Without it, we can't recover," said the jubilant Hugayet coach Joey Aranda moments after steering the Abqaiq based dribblers to one of the league's most stirring victories in years.
Joel Timbang, voted as Most Valuable Player of the final and Rookie of the Year, slowly zipped Hugayet's claim to the title with each flick of his wrist from the arc with aplomb sending the sell out crowd to their feet.
The El Bicolanos stormed an early lead 22-10 in the first period but Hugayet five clawed back in the second canto 29-27.
Resty Ramirez, Jorex Laurente and Michael Cabigon thrilled the crowd with their deadly treys, grabbing rebound and suave perimeter shooting.
But the never say die Bicolanos boasted of an equally aggressive offense led by Mythical Five awardee Ferdie Batang and veteran wingman Bobby Moreno with 11 and 17 points.
The crowd that filled the IPSA indoor gym burst into wild celebration when Moreno and Dandy Curanes scored on a power play off Timbang to level the count 47-47, 7:54 remaining in the final period.
Timbang playing without relief silenced the El Bicolanos crowd as he retaliated and delivered important basket and quickly with tough basket of his own to spark a whirlwind windup that ripped the contest wide open.
Hugayet's Timbang and Ramirez joined Batang and Moreno of El Bicolanos while Alvin Pascual from Fuddruckers completes the magic Mythical Five Awardee.
Best Coach Plum went to Joey Aranda of PMT Hugayet, while Jay Braulio of Sinayah Spurs claimed the Highest Pointers of the League.
Other special awards were given to Luigi Alemania of Al Mira Steamatic for Sportsmanship Award while Best in Three Points was given to Homer Pascual of Al Fallah Car Service.
The tournament was organized by 3rd IPSA Basketball League (IBL) jointly sponsored by Qatar Airways, Saudi Steel Pipes Co., Saudi Formaldehyde Chemical Co. Ltd. (SFCCL), Arabian Consulting Engineering Centre (ACEC), Zahid Tractors, Arabian CBI, Al-Qahtani Pipe Coating Terminal Co., Dhahran Al-Arabi Aluminium Co., Lummus Alireza Ltd. Co., Hempel Paints Saudi Arabia, Al-Mutawa Samyong Co., El-Ajou Group, Tal Aramex, Industrial Marketing Co. Al-Othman (IMCO).
Earlier, FMQ Sons Company whipped erstwhile conqueror Arcan Vita, 110-95 via over time win.
After a forgettable showing in their semi-final match, Alvin Balajadia reintroduced himself big time as he hit two clutch baskets and made one critical stop down the stretch to lift FMQ Sons Co. to a thrilling over time win.
Almost given up for the dead after Zaldy Patanao and Danny Papag reeled off back-to- back baskets that gave Arcan Vita's 90-87 with 0.28 seconds tick, but Rookie Player of the Year Awardee Alvin Serrano came to rescue of the Pipeline Specialist as he threw a three point shot but fouled by Jon Jon Maniquiz.
Serrano converted two free throws making it 89-90, with 0.12 seconds remaining.
Visibly shaken by Serrano's hulking presence inside the paint, the boys of Paul Blanca failed to make a descent shot with Jerold Arguson forcing to shoot from the 3-point arc- no thanks to FMQ's rock-solid defense.
Responsible for overtime was Balajadia's time-heroic as he converted a clean basket in an offensive rebound for easy put back, a feat that saw FMQ Sons supporters bursting into tremendous applause.
In overtime regulation, the boys of Rick Dela Cruz maneuvered Arcan Vita's slow coming as they lost control in the boards when their defensive specialist fouled out at crunch time.
FMQ's Serrano top all scorers with 38 points, while Meynard Biscocho and Allan Quiambao chipped in 23 and 20 points respectively.
Text & Photos By: KIM G. CORTEZ
Getting big boost from their main stars in their knock out game, the Project Management Team (PMT - Hugayet) completed it with destiny as the Abqaiq based dribblers scored a pulsating 67-64 win over El Bicolano and ruled the 3rd IBL basketball tournament at the crowded International Philippine School in Al Khobar (IPSA) multi-purpose gym in this bustling city.
"Faith gave us the strength and to work hard and to believe in ourselves. Without it, we can't recover," said the jubilant Hugayet coach Joey Aranda moments after steering the Abqaiq based dribblers to one of the league's most stirring victories in years.
Joel Timbang, voted as Most Valuable Player of the final and Rookie of the Year, slowly zipped Hugayet's claim to the title with each flick of his wrist from the arc with aplomb sending the sell out crowd to their feet.
The El Bicolanos stormed an early lead 22-10 in the first period but Hugayet five clawed back in the second canto 29-27.
Resty Ramirez, Jorex Laurente and Michael Cabigon thrilled the crowd with their deadly treys, grabbing rebound and suave perimeter shooting.
But the never say die Bicolanos boasted of an equally aggressive offense led by Mythical Five awardee Ferdie Batang and veteran wingman Bobby Moreno with 11 and 17 points.
The crowd that filled the IPSA indoor gym burst into wild celebration when Moreno and Dandy Curanes scored on a power play off Timbang to level the count 47-47, 7:54 remaining in the final period.
Timbang playing without relief silenced the El Bicolanos crowd as he retaliated and delivered important basket and quickly with tough basket of his own to spark a whirlwind windup that ripped the contest wide open.
Hugayet's Timbang and Ramirez joined Batang and Moreno of El Bicolanos while Alvin Pascual from Fuddruckers completes the magic Mythical Five Awardee.
Best Coach Plum went to Joey Aranda of PMT Hugayet, while Jay Braulio of Sinayah Spurs claimed the Highest Pointers of the League.
Other special awards were given to Luigi Alemania of Al Mira Steamatic for Sportsmanship Award while Best in Three Points was given to Homer Pascual of Al Fallah Car Service.
The tournament was organized by 3rd IPSA Basketball League (IBL) jointly sponsored by Qatar Airways, Saudi Steel Pipes Co., Saudi Formaldehyde Chemical Co. Ltd. (SFCCL), Arabian Consulting Engineering Centre (ACEC), Zahid Tractors, Arabian CBI, Al-Qahtani Pipe Coating Terminal Co., Dhahran Al-Arabi Aluminium Co., Lummus Alireza Ltd. Co., Hempel Paints Saudi Arabia, Al-Mutawa Samyong Co., El-Ajou Group, Tal Aramex, Industrial Marketing Co. Al-Othman (IMCO).
Earlier, FMQ Sons Company whipped erstwhile conqueror Arcan Vita, 110-95 via over time win.
After a forgettable showing in their semi-final match, Alvin Balajadia reintroduced himself big time as he hit two clutch baskets and made one critical stop down the stretch to lift FMQ Sons Co. to a thrilling over time win.
Almost given up for the dead after Zaldy Patanao and Danny Papag reeled off back-to- back baskets that gave Arcan Vita's 90-87 with 0.28 seconds tick, but Rookie Player of the Year Awardee Alvin Serrano came to rescue of the Pipeline Specialist as he threw a three point shot but fouled by Jon Jon Maniquiz.
Serrano converted two free throws making it 89-90, with 0.12 seconds remaining.
Visibly shaken by Serrano's hulking presence inside the paint, the boys of Paul Blanca failed to make a descent shot with Jerold Arguson forcing to shoot from the 3-point arc- no thanks to FMQ's rock-solid defense.
Responsible for overtime was Balajadia's time-heroic as he converted a clean basket in an offensive rebound for easy put back, a feat that saw FMQ Sons supporters bursting into tremendous applause.
In overtime regulation, the boys of Rick Dela Cruz maneuvered Arcan Vita's slow coming as they lost control in the boards when their defensive specialist fouled out at crunch time.
FMQ's Serrano top all scorers with 38 points, while Meynard Biscocho and Allan Quiambao chipped in 23 and 20 points respectively.
Text & Photos By: KIM G. CORTEZ