KSA - Super Bawang Muncher fly high in UMA Challenge Cup

DAMMAM (Challenge Cup) - W.L. Foods Super Bawang Muncher's running game and clogging defense became UFSA-DBL All Star worst nightmare the rest of the way as the Super Bawang dumped the all star Cager's with a lopsided 95-71 win, as the Universal Motors Agency Basketball Challenge Cup continues at the crowded Al Nahda Sports Club here.

Super Bawang five tightened up its defensive screws in the second frame and bombarded the UFSA-DBL selections porous defense all-throughout the match to remain unbeaten in the open category.

"We applied our defense and aggressiveness in the second quarter so we prevented the scoring opportunities finals."

From a slow start that earned them just 28-19 lead at the first frame, the Super Bawang utilized their scoring and defensive prowess to withstand the attempted rally of the Dammam based dribllers en route to a commanding 51-35 half time lead.

UFSA-DBL banked on Ely Panahons scoring expertise, sparking a 14-4 burst that pulled the all-star within 62-75, 6:42 to go in the period. He got eight points in that rally.

The productive playmaker, however, managed only two points in the first 20 minutes after picking up three quick fouls.

But all star studded UFSA-DBL had no answer to the rampaging Super Bawang. Swingman Nap Fontanila scored four straight points and Eric Satol added a basket to give the victors a 87-66 lead early in the dying minutes of the match. They were never seriously threatened from there.

The lead swelled to 17 points on a Marvin Gonzales lay-up, 81-64, 2:57 left, and reached its peak on a consecutive drive by Dong Enriquez and Bert Pia, 93-69, 40 seconds to go.

Satol was the first to pound the shaded lane for the Super Bawang. He collected 13 points in the first half as the Super Bawang took a 36-23 lead at the turn, while veteran cager Fontanilla led the victors with 14 points and nine rebounds.

Panahon and Tanny Delis finished with 15 and 13 points respectively for the UFSA-DBL.

The tournament is being sponsored by Universal Motors Agency, supported by Sky Freight Forwarders, Hempel Paints, Mc Donalds Restaurant, Chowking Restaurant, BAI Aluminum Façade Specialist, The Filipino Channel (TFC), and GMA Pinoy Plus.
In another battle, M.R. Al Khathlan suffered their first defeat after trashing by title favorite Saudi Ready Mix in a heart stopping match, 94-84 win.
The come-backing Saudi Ready Mix overcame a slow start and beat the seemingly-invincible Al Khathlan team.

Down by 44-46 at the end of second period, the Mixers slowly inched closer when Pampanga's pride and long range shooter Rolly Bisda started to hit his treys. But it was the explosive performance of iron-man Rodel Caverte, in the final minutes that sealed the victory for Willy De Lara-Carlos Casenas team.

Trailing at 86-79, Caverte heroics started when converted his three consecutive triples and hustle the new comer Khathlan five, defying acrobatic Rudy Fernandez who teamed up with Rookie Wilder Vergara who provided the muscles and leveled the game shown by the Mixers.

But the high spirited Saudi Ready Mix squad gripped their 8 point deficit to come out victorious and received tremendous applause and respect from the crowd who witnessed the highly physical match.

All around performer Bisda topped all scorers with 45 points. Caverte added 27 points while Michael San Felipe and Arnold Bondoc contributed 8 and 6 points respectively.

Fernandez led Al Khathlan with 24 points, while Vergara, Edmer Garcia and Herbert Lirio combined for 31 points.

Other match results, Chowking Restaurant defeated Orbit Tigers 74-61, Herfy Restaurant dumped Nights of Tamimi 62-60, Insuns Redminizers whipped Dammam Warriors 72-71, Nineteens smashed Tropang Khobar 112-73, Carlson Cargo downed Arcan Vita 82-80, Bin Quraya outplayed Derbass Nuggets 89-82, while Bisdak trounced Fahad Alireza 83-82.

By: KIM G. CORTEZ
FIBA Official Correspondent in Saudi Arabia