KUWAIT CITY, Feb 20: Maidan once again proved that they are one of the main contenders for this season’s title when they overcame another very fine team Movenpick Al Bida’a 72-70 in the 19th Filipino Basketball League (FBL) at the Al Bayan Bilingual School in Jabriya, Friday.
On the other hand, the other FBL matches witnessed newcomers Columbus Café brushed aside Wizara 71-50,while Papa John’s outlasted Triggers 75-71, FIL-AM tamed the 5-man team of Metal Center 116-79 and Shonan won by default when Sahara failed to show up.
Meanwhile, there was an amazing performance from the Maki team when they bounced back in the second round and overpowered leaders Boushahri in two sets after a close first set to win 25-23, 25-19 in the 4th Filipino Men’s Volleyball League (FMVL) Goodwill Games Conference at the same venue later in the day.
These events are being officiated by Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP)-Kuwait Chapter with Commissioner Demos Arienda along with Baylon Tenorio, Toots Apostol, Jhune Lagmay, Ferdie Tadena, George Panganiban, Jun Torres and Joel Acuna.

FMVL
Maki vs Boushahri
Maki played one of their best games ever when they overcome Boushahri in 2 sets 25-23, 25-19 after a tough first set when see-sawed from one end to the other before striding through the 2nd set.
The first set of the game saw Maki in their best shoes when #3 Ella hit a spike to score while #8 Gino fired an ace along with a block from #14 Ric to take a 5-1 at one point that called for Boushahri’s initial break.

Meanwhile, it was not very long before #2 Jerome of Maki delivered another solid spike that took his team to an 8-2 lead when a technical time out was called.
However, Boushahri again appeared to start on the wrong foot although they acquired the first 4 points through errors from their rivals with #2 Jerry making his mark with an ace followed by a block from #7 Jopay and #14 Jhomz while it seemed that the net did not cooperate with #3 Ella and #2 Jerome from the other side of the court that resulted in the gap being closed to 7-9 points.
On the other hand, Maki’s setter #14 Ric set up the ball just over the net that resulted in #3 Ella hit a bamboozling spike that caught their rivals unawares and he was supported with back to back spikes from #2 Jerome, #5 KC and #8 Gino while one of Boushahri’s finest member #4 Wilton hit an over the net drop shot followed by a #7 Jopay spike. Meanwhile there were a number of errors by Maki but they remained in control as they held on to a 2-point lead 16-14.

Wearing jersey #14 Ric of Maki used his wits because when it seemed that he would set up the ball, he just dropped it across the net to which their opponents had no reply. Maki consistently gathered points through blocks from #3 Ella and #2 Jerome and a #5 KC spike but from the other side of the net #7 Jopay, #14 Jhoms and #4 Wilton managed to deliver solid spikes that saw them level, first on 20-20 and then 21-21.
Maki then took the driver’s seat through hard spikes from #2 Jerome, #8 Gino and #3 Ella that put them ahead 24-21 but when Boushahri saw a service error from #4 Wilton Maki took the set 25-23.
In the 2nd set Maki were not complacent at any point with another witty drop shot from #14 Ric while it appeared that Boushahri faced a lot of pressure as they needed to win the set to push for a 3rd deciding set and this pressure seemed to weaken them as they gained a number of errors on their services which hit the ceiling while their spikes that handed the advantage to their rivals who moved ahead, to lead 8-3 but they soon increased this lead to 11-4.

Maki pressed hard on the accelerator and they put up a strong defense with good blocks and back to back spikes from #5 KC and #8 Gino while their rivals consistently kept running into errors that saw them take a 16-8 lead before a technical time out was called.
One of Maki’s finest members #3 Ella come up with back to back spikes while their overwhelming energy saw them drive in a number of powerful spikes that landed out of the courts and favored their opponents who cut the lead to 12-18 at one point.
Meanwhile, in the last moments of the set #10Vester hit 3 back to back spikes for Maki along with similar shots from #1 Joey, #5 KC and a jump spike from #Ella handed them a 25-19 point victory.
Wearing Jersey #3 Ella of Maki was given the Best Player of the Game award.
Initial Standings
Teams    GP    Win    Loss
Boushahri    8    6    2
Rebellious Elfin    7    5    2
Maki    8    3    5
Angel Eyes    7    3    4

FBL
Maidan vs Movenpick Al Bida’a
FBL supporters were in for some real treat early that day when Maidan showed some real class as they fought for every point to edge Movenpick Al Bida’a by 72-70 points.
Both teams were all warmed up in the initial quarter when they put their best foot forward but none of them could take control of the match as they both kept scoring at regular intervals.
Maidan hit back to back long shots through #10 Joey Talete accompanied by a solid line of defense from #18 Nelman Alanan, #23 Jojo Obordo and #27 Toper Gorospe while from the other side of the bench combination shots from #9 Rey Nuique and #30 Ferdie Cortez saw them collect most of the points while #0 Toti Maregman put a strong defence that resulted in Maidan leading the first quarter by 22-21 points.
One of the premium players of Maidan, #32 Mark Tadlas put up a good show in the 2nd quarter when he received good assists from his teammates that gave him an easy access to the hoops and he was backed by #6 Edmar Sumande who prevented their rivals from scoring.

Meanwhile, Movenpick Al Bida’a managed to execute back to back 3 pointers through #18 Marlon Enriquez but it did not make much of a difference as they were behind by 5 points 34-39 at the end of the 1st half.
Maidan pressed on the accelerator in the 3rd quarter as they scored 24 points alone in the same quarter starting with an opening long shot from #10 Joey Talete along with some fine shots from #27 Toper Gorospe, #32 Mark Tadlas and another 3-point shot from #23 Jojo Obordo while from the other side of the bench #18 Marlon Enriquez replied with a long shot and some scores from #0 Toti Maregman but the latter still fell short as Maidan moved ahead by 16 points 63-47.
The last 10 minutes of the ballgame saw Maidan face a tough test that made their Coach Roy Goricetta come up with a game plan to stop his rivals from stealing the victory from them.
Wearing jersey #10 Toti Talete of Maidan opened up the last quarter with a basket and a perfect shot from the 15 foot line along with support from #14 Nelman Alanan while #32 Mark Tadlas maximized all his efforts before he was fouled out.

On the other hand, Movenpick Al Bida’a switched to a higher level of performance and also put up a tight defense although a technical foul was called at one point of the game when #9 Rey Nuique tapped the board but this did not stop them from coming close when #30 Ferdie Cortez gained access to the hoops while back to back long shots from #0 Toti Maregman and #18 Marlon Enriquez saw them level the match on 70-70 points but it seemed that time did not favor them when a foul was called against them which handed an opportunity to Maidan’s #10 Toti Talete to score two points shots from the free-throw line that made them walk home with a 72-70 victory.
Best Player of the Game was #10 Joey Talete of Maidan.

Papa John’s vs Triggers
Another treat to ballgame lovers was provided earlier that day when Papa John’s had a close match before they outlasted Triggers by 75-71 points.
The initial quarter saw that Papa John’s were all warmed up as they fired an early long shot through #4 Ceballos accompanied by good shots from #5 Reyes and #11 Masangkay although their rivals managed to answer the long shot but were leading 17-9 at the ending of the first quarter.
Meanwhile, Triggers were all warmed in the 2nd quarter as they started to strengthen their defense through #1 Jun and at the same time they picked up more points through #23 JV along with 3 points from #21 Darwin while from the other side of the courts #71 Lago contributed most of the points that kept Papa in the driver’s seat as they led by 31-24 points.

Triggers realized that Papa John’s were not an easy opponent this made them come up with game plan that involved a strong defense and some a fast shooting with back to back 3-pointers through #1 Jun and also two from #21 Darwin. Papa John’s were awakened by this suddenly rejuvenated Triggers side who closed the difference to a single point 50-51 point by the end of the 3rd quarter.
The final quarter put the observers on the edge of their seats as both the teams were involved in a seesaw battle but it Papa John’s kept a good grip on the ball and were consistent from the free throw line. Although Triggers fought on valiantly the game ended with Papa John’s winning by 75-71 points as they refused to buckle under the pressure.
Best Player of the Game was #71 Lago of Papa John’s.

Columbus Café vs Wizara
A new name in the areana, Columbus Café, showed their class when they acquired their initial victory when they hammered Wizara 71-50.
A close 1st quarter was seen when the score was 14-12 points in favor of Columbus Café when they got most of their shots from #7 Charlo Cuevas while from the other side of the courts #8 Villanueva got some baskets along with a long shot from #11 Chaneco.
Columbus Café switched their game to higher level as they put up a solid defense that did not give their rivals any opportunity to score more points. Columbus Café then got some fine shots from #6 Lito Cruz and #68 Yel Guanlao that kept them in control by 14 points 31-17 at the end of the 1st half.

Meanwhile, Wizara were made to sweat and they tried to come up with a good game plan to match their opponents. They managed to pulled off back to back 3-point shots through #3 Barnachea and #89 Aquino but their rivals had answer to those shots through #18 Joseph Montierro that kept the latter ahead 52-36 at the end of the third quarter.
Never at any point were Columbus Café complacent in the last 10 minutes of the ballgame and maintained to get good shots through #6 Lito Cruz and #68 Yel Guanlao that handed them their first victory by 71-50 points.
Wearing Jersey #6 Lito Cruz of Columbus Café was given the Best Player of the Game award.

FIL-AM vs Metal Center
In the last game on that day, FIL-AM showed that they had a very strong lineup to overpower the 5-player team of Metal Center 116-79 points.
In the 1st quarter FIL-AM put their best foot forward through back to back 3 point shots from #2 Jerry Tan and #11 Reneses while #5 Punzalan drove in another 8 points in the same quarter alone from good steals and assists from #8 Najera while their opponents appeared to be warming up as they failed with most of their shots to trail by 13 points 11-24.

Meanwhile, bursting with tons of energy FIL-AM showed their shooting prowess through #2 Jerry Tan and #88 Silvestre while their opponents fought for every point and got some good shots through #3 Espadero and #35 Cordova but FIL-AM stayed ahead by 19 points 51-32 at the end of the 1st half.
Never at any point were Metal Center complacent in the 3rd quarter as they switched their game to a higher level and scored through #6 Qinano, #30 Nilooban and #2 Salcedo while from the other side of the bench it seemed that the players took things a bit easy since they realized that their rivals handicapped by the fact they had only five players and no replacements started to gasp for some air although they closed the gap to 10 points 60-70.
It was not long, however, before one of the best members of FIL-AM #14 Marvin Sumague fired in outstanding shots from the 3 point territory with five shots finding their mark that caught left opponent stunned as FIL-AM went on to score a 37-point 116-79 victory.

Initial Standings
Teams    GP    Win    Loss
Movenpick Al Bida’a     9    8    1
Papa John’s    7    6    1
Maidan    5    5    0
FIL AM    6    5    1
Al Essa    6    4    2
Triggers    7    4    3
Holiday Inn    5    3    2
Desert Fox    8    3    5
Shonan     5    2    3
Kaibigan Uno    7    2    5
Columbus Coffee    1    1    0
Metal Center    7    1    6
Wizara    6    0    6
Sahara    8    0    8
FBL, FMVL and FWVL organizers would like to thank their sponsors Caroll Ong from Metrobank Super Bilis Padala and Red Bull Energy Drink for supporting their events.