Fuente: © FIBA (Federación Internacional de Basket)
http://www.fiba.org/

FIBA: KSA - Dammam Dome, Bader Al Hussaini beat foes in EPBL

/noticias.info/ DAMMAM (EPBL-Best Group) - The undermanned Dammam Dome Aluminum relied on the hot hands of Hansen Louie Solilapsi to escape with a 74-67 victory over Saudi Paper Company in the Inter-Company Division of the EPBL-Best Group 3rd Conference at the Al Ettifaq Sports Club here.

Topping all scorers with 23 points, it was Solilapsi's two successive baskets in the final three minutes, amid the tight guarding of Richard Bartolo that dealt the killing blow to the faltering Paper Makers.

Getting spirited plays from Valentino Baguio and Ramil Solis at both ends of the floor, coach Froilan Arcilla said, "the boys played great especially Solilapsi. He bailed us out just at the right time. If Baguio, Solis and Jaymar Bulingit continuous to play like that, we can then set our sights on the championship."

Saudi Paper tried to recover from a slow start with a 10-2 burst to threaten in the fourth period but the boys of Wilson Brua wouldn't let them.

"Even if we lost, I'm really proud about the way the guys played", said Saudi Paper Bob Canta. "We had good looks at the rim, the shots just didn't fall. Its not yet over. We still have a more games left."

Baguio and Carlito Cabasa chipped in 21 and 11 points for the victors while Velarde led Saudi Papers with 17 points. Bartolo and Gelmer Chan added 16 and 11 points, respectively.

The tournament, with theme "Working together towards success" is being presented by Best Group and supported by Majestic Rent A Car, Monde Nissin Corporations/Lucky Me! Supreme Noodles, Sugarlandia House of Seafoods, Springs Water-Nestle, Phuket Restaurant, AND 1 Sports, Mc Donald's Restaurant, and ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel.

In another match, Bader Al Hussaini needed a big fourth quarter push to ward off the pesky Panda Azizia Markets for an 88-71 win.

With Panda taking the lead in the first half, the Al Hussaini five scraped back early in the third and took the lead when the boys of Hassan Kasaey got into foul trouble. Both teams tried to outgun each other in a see-saw battle throughout the final canto but Panda's winning hopes got ruined when three of its starters fouled out in succession at crunch time.

Al Hussaini's Roel Raga led all scorers with 29 points while Ortencio Isidro and Freddie Arcilla chipped in 24 and 13 points, respectively.

Macloy Osio led Panda with 25 points. The trio of Henry Prago, Ruel Carpio, and Frank Gapasin combined for 55 points, while ace gunner Rahmuddin Macasampen had a dismal 8 points.

In the Premier Category, Phuket Restaurant's Ricky Lucero and Louie Dela Cruz made up for the lackluster game of wingman Leo Estayo as the duo came up with the winning play for an 89-87 come-from-behind upset of the mighty Al Rawabi Holding Company.

With the game tied at 87-all, Lucero set a high screen for Dela Cruz off veteran White Datungputi. As Datungputi chased the diminutive guard, Lucero passed ball to Dela Cruz, who converted the winning basket from the corner.

Down by 11 points at the half, Rawabi shelled Phuket with back-to-back baskets in the final quarter courtesy of Dennis Bonilla, Homer Pascual, Joel Galinato and Jorex Laurente including Joey Julaton's crucial three pointer in the dying seconds to equalize at 87-all. The Rawabi five came up short in the end-game that set the stage for Dela Cruz's heroics.

Lucero led all scorers with 32 points while Dela Cruz and Estayo chipped in 23 and 13 points respectively.

For Al Rawabi, Julaton scored a monster 25 points including two triples while Bonilla and Pascual contributed 18 and 11 points respectively.

Other action results, Haji Alireza-Mazda downed Pampanga Dragons 79-58; Phuket Thai Restaurant 2 whipped Al Hugayet 91-74, while SFCCL defeated Tambay-GRCF in a lopsided match, 102-74.

Kim G. Cortez notas_de_prensa_archivo