KSA - Saudi Techint and Al-Falak whip adversaries

DAMMAM (EPBL) - Neophytes Saudi Techint signaled their seriousness to stamp their mark in the prestigious Eastern Province Basketball League after rolling past the Ilocos Snipers, 101-92, last Friday at the Al-Ettifaq Club here.

Saudi Techint played with intensity employing full-court trapping defense althroughout the game. The newcomers played cohesively, chased every loose ball, battled for rebounds, clogged the lane and to made extra passes to find the open man.

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

Team Captain Jeffrey Mendoza and the high flying Russel Briones led Techint's balanced attack with 23 and 25 points, respectively, for their first win. All of Techint's players hit the scoreboard with big man Welster Bartolato adding 10 points and 15 rebounds.

"Now that we finally made it to the EPBL, we're here not just to play but to make noise and show people that we're a team to recon with. We have to stay focused and concentrate again in our next game," the winning coach Mojica said.

After a close first quarter, Techint started a 14-2 run on the way to a commanding 59-39 lead at the half.

The Snipers rallied early in the third with a 12-4 salvo behind ace guard Melvin Borje and forward JR Manzano to cut the lead to 51-63 with 6:13 remaining but that was the closest they could get as Techint regrouped to stay ahead at 81-64 going into the final period.

Coach Rolly Hadloc deployed a man-zone defense to slow down Techint's onslaught but big man Manny Apostol fouled out  midway into the fourth crushing the hopes of the Ilocanos.

Borje paced the Snipers with 26 points, while Manzano had 25 points and 9 caroms. Apostol added 14 and Joel Beado chipped in 13 points, respectively.

In another game, veteran Arnold Sta. Ana displayed his vintage shooting touch as Al-Falak System Solution derailed Al-Majdouie, 74-61, for their second consecutive win in the Inter Company Bonafide Division.

Sta. Ana proved that he still has the touch as he scattered for 23 points while Ayee Sanchez led with 24 points.  However, it was forward Earl Sta. Ana who provided the Al-Falak's stability when Al-Majdouie staged a searing comeback.

Down by 18 points in the second quarter, Al-Majdouie slowly closed in at 59-54 with just over four minutes remaining.

With their gunners' misfiring, the injured Earl Sta. Ana entered the game and scored  four points and dished out a clean inside pass to Sanchez and to his brother Duane Sta. Ana stopping  Al-Majdouie's momentum.

It was a costly defeat for Al-Majdouie as they are now at the bottom of the standings without a win to show.

Similarly, Al-Majdouie's starters were in scoring drought. Jonathan Sovena stepped up with 25 points , Hilbert Tagara, Jaypee Baltazar and Randolf Echague had 10 points apiece, all coming off the bench.

Meanwhile, Al-Tuwairqi Group bounced back with a lopsided win over Saudi Paper 90-55; SINTEC/SOGEC surprised Al-Hoty 88-72; MAZDA defeated Tanajib General Contracting Company. 92-88; while Arcan Vita whips the Dammam Central Hospital Dragons, 97-78.

Thrilling match-ups are expected this Friday, May 11, as defending champion PSSE meets the new ACEC in the Premier League while the returning stars of ARCC-EEI will test the rejuvenated Al-Suwaidi Holding in the Inter-Company Rated Division, along with five other exciting games.

By Romeo O. Navidad
FIBA Correspondent in Saudi Arabia