Dammam, Saudi Arabia– Al Majdouie was again at its finest as they survived a few scary moments, powering past newcomer RV Personnel Incorporated via a 70-61 victory in the elimination round in the Eastern Province Basketball League (EPBL) Advisor’s Cup at Ettifaq Club Gymnasium here Friday.
Al Falak System Solution and Consulting together with Al Enaizi Enterprises are the major sponsors of the Advisor’s Cup supported by Abdulla Fouad, RVP Incorporated, Hoshan Office Automation, Phuket Restaurant and Cecile’s Catering with the cooperation of Mc Donalds and The Filipino Channel (TFC).
Joy Belmonte scattered 29 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assist to lead Al Majdouie, but it was the heroics of slotman Marvin Ruado and wingman Ronald dela Cruz in the last canto that enabled the car dealers to take control in the last two minutes of the game.
Both teams played very tight defense resulting in seven lead changes with no less than five points separating the two teams and five deadlocks in the game.
Al Majdouie hung tough with a slim 34-31 advantage at the half but RVP would not give up and slowly regrouped in the 3rd quarter with big man Mark Lesther Escobar and Robert Fajardo working on inside plays to tie the game at 40-40. But Al Majdouie was still up by three, 45-42, after the period.
Both teams traded baskets at the start of the fourth quarter that saw RVP close in with the effort of Conrado Ora, Reggie Gaton and Escobar at 52-53 with 3:53 remaining in the period. But Al Majdouie’s playmaker Jay Recato found the open man Belmonte beyond the arc who converted his second long three pointer to increase the lead to 56-52, but two unanswered baskets by RVP resulted in another deadlock at 56-56 with 2:43 remaining. Al Majdouie coach Lawrence Militante called for a timeout.
In the ensuing play, dela Cruz, who struggled with foul trouble in the early goings, converted a lay-up despite a gutsy defense by RVP. Ora was called for an offensive foul on RVP’s ball possession. Al Majdouie had a huge 6-0 run capped with a 23-footer from Ruado for a 64-56 lead that turned the game with 1:13 left.
Ruado and dela Cruz had 11 points apiece to helpd Al Majdouie with a fine supporting performance from Paolo Macaculop and Recato who combined for a total score of 14. Escobar led RVP with a double-double performance with 16 points and 13 rebounds, Ora chipped in with 12 points while playmaker Mark Pasamba and Gaton had seven and six points, respectively, for RVP.
In the other game Jarir Bookstore proved that they are the team to beat in the Inter Company Bonafide Division Class C as they outclassed rival Al Jazirah Ford 82-58.
Arjay Pasites topped all scorers with his 23 points; Rookies Rocky Vilar had 15, Andy Morada added 14 points and eight rebounds while sweet-shooting guard and veteran Rolly Hadloc had 10 points and 4 assists for the Bookstores win. The smaller Al Jazirah Ford squad was out rebounded 12-28 as the team could not manage to grab the lead following a deadlock at 27-27 in the second quarter.
Carlo Mungcal and Joel Lingon had 20 and 11 points, respectively, for Jazirah Ford with a little help from Noel Fernandez with eight points, for their second setback in three games.
Meanwhile, Safari Company Limited notched their first win against Abdulla Fouad 65-51 to keep their hopes alive in the knock-out round; the Markaz Daggers team beat Zagaporms Cue Master 78-54; Al Iman Company surprised Al Hoty Calibration 73-56 and Sharbatly Fruits won 75-70 against Gulf Real Estate.