KUWAIT CITY, May 29: Movenpick qualified to meet Maidan Group in the “twice to beat play” Championship Finals after they brushed aside Papa John’s -- who finished 2nd runners-up – in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Triggers walked home with 3rd runners-up award when FIL-AM failed to show up for their 19th Inter-Commercial Goodwill Games Conference match at the Bayan Bilingual School in Jabriya, Friday.
In the same arena, the newly-opened 20th Inter-Company witnessed B-Cielos pick up another victory to level with Hilton Kuwait Resort on top of the standings with 2 wins when they overcame Black and White Restaurant by 9 points 75-66 while newcomers LXG upset N-Dash in a single point 80-79 victory.
This event is being officiated by Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP)-Kuwait Chapter, headed by Commissioner Demos Arienda, along with Baylon Tenorio, Toots Apostol, Jhune Lagmay, Ferdie Tadena, George Panganiban, Jun Torres and Joel Acuna.
Inter-Commercial
Movenpick vs Papa John’s
Late in the afternoon, Movenpick were in full battle gear when they stamped their authority on their match after leading from start to finish against Papa John’s to win 89-78 points.
Movenpick started off fast and were soon 9-0 ahead with 7:34 minutes on the clock early in the first quarter but Papa John’s managed to break through with a shot from #16 Banez before #9 Ryu Nuique of Movenpick pulled off a long shot with 6:49 minutes in the quarter that strengthened their lead to 12-2 at one point.
It was not very long before Papa John’s players were all warmed up and established a strong line of defense, acquiring some points from #5 Reyes along with back to back shots from #28 Magallanes and #3 Boanarjes but #1 Sam Camangeg fired back immediately to see the score hit 26-16 with 48 seconds left and later gained a 9-point lead for Movenpick 28-19 by the end of the quarter.
Meanwhile, the next quarter saw Papa John’s open up with back to back long shots from #3 Boanarjes and #4 Ceballos as they closed the gap to 5 points 25-30. Movenpick then decided to call for a time out with 8:03 minutes left in the quarter.
The strong-willed team of Movenpick came up with a game plan and picked up 8 points through back to back shots from #9 Ryu Nuique and #16 Marlon Batino while their rivals were stunned by this performance that saw them call for a time-out.
Movenpick produced a number of bad passes and their momentum appeared to decline that hand an opportunity to their rivals for a number of steals that provided access to the hoops to #71 Lago and #5 Reyes while a reverse lay-up from #4 Ceballos once again saw Papa John’s close to within 4 points 40-44 with 56 seconds to complete the 2nd quarter. Movenpick picked up through #9 Ryu Nuique but a nice turn around shot by #71 Lago – one of Papa John’s finest members – saw the first half end 47-42 points in Movenpick’s favor.
A battle of 3 points emerged early in the 3rd quarter when one of Movenpick’s 3 point shooters #18 Marlon Enriquez drove in one of the shots but their opponents immediately replied through #28 Magallanes. There was good teamwork from Movenpick and they had outstanding assists that saw their players find the hoops with more back to back long shots from #0 Toti Maregmen and #18 Marlon Enriquez with a reverse lay-up from #9 Ryu Nuique once again put them 11 points ahead 60-49 with 5:42 minutes left in the quarter with Papa John’s calling for a timeout.
But this break did not in anyway affect the capabilities of Movenpick as they showed class in their shooting and defensive skills while their opponents collected offensive fouls and also had a number of missed shots that resulted in Movenpick taking control of the game and moving ahead 69-54 with 2:26 minutes left in the quarter.
On the other hand, one of Papa John’s premium members #5 Reyes drove in another long shot but it was replied by back to back 3 point shots from #18 Marlon Enriquez and #9 Ryu Nuique but Papa John’s still conceded a 16-point 59-75 lead by the end of the 3rd quarter.
Papa John’s made an effort to match their opponents overwhelming energy and managed a number of steals with #13 Gallano chipping in with some baskets as they pulled in within 7 points 70-77 with 5:18 minutes left in the last quarter.
However, Movenpick’s 3-point shooter #18 Marlon Enriquez and #9 Ryu Nuique wasted no time and strengthened the lead ahead while their opponents failed in their attempts from the three-point territory that saw them gain a 13-point 85-72 lead with 1:50 minutes to finish and although Movenpick generated a bad pass and 24 seconds violation as they were intentionally burning the time they were already assured of victory and did not make much of a difference with the game ending 89-78.
BAP Commissioner Demos Arienda announced that the registration for the upcoming Inter-Commercial Conference is now open.
Inter-Company championship
LXG vs N-Dash
Newcomer LXG registered their initial victory of the tournament after a close 80-79 victory over N-Dash.
The first quarter witnessed LXG in their best shoes when they found the hoops through #20 Merpio and #18 Malijan who also managed a long shot while from the other side of the bench #24 JR Palma tried to pat back in the same coin along with his teammates but they fell short by 5 points as LXG led 20-15 after the first quarter.
LXG continued to put in their best efforts with wonderfully executed shots from #4 Aragones accompanied by another 3-point shot from#18 Malijan while N-Dash put on a massive defense through #13 Khaled Toledo while retaliating with fine shots from #24 JR Palma, backed by a long shot from #34 Dennis Arcay but soon they were caught unawares by their rivals onslaught that resulted in a 13-point 43-30 lead for LXG by the end of the 2nd quarter.
N-Dash was a different side when the 3rd quarter started as they came up with back to back shots from #24 JR Palma and #13 Khaled Toledo who contributed 11 points in the 3rd quarter alone while their rivals fought wisely to maintain the lead through #4 Aragones along with another long shot from #18 Malijan but their rivals closed the gap to 7 points 51-58 by the end of the third quarter.
The final quarter was a real treat for everyone as both teams tussled for supremacy – with neither of them proving that they were an easy prey – that produced a seesaw battle. N-Dash put up a solid defense through #1 Willie Palma and #24 JR Palma but both failed to finish the game as they were fouled out but y then they had helped their team close to within 2 points 76-78 with a few seconds left in the ballgame.
On the other hand, LXG were alarmed and were under intense pressure to win, #4 Aragones stepped in with tight marking that gave access to the hoops to #6 Ballesteros and #20 Merpio but with a few seconds left N-Dash pulled off a long shot through #13 Khaled Toledo that switch the leaded to 79-78 in their favor but it was not very long before #Vre’s buzzer beater saw LXG win by a single point 80-79.
Best Players of the Week are being given transferable scholarship certificates, courtesy of AIM Global, and this week the same was awarded to #4 Aragones of LXG.
B-Cielos vs Black and White
B-Cielos completed a 9-point victory over Black and White 75-66 earlier that day in the same arena.
The initial quarter saw both teams all warmed up with Black and White penetrating the hoops with most of the baskets delivered by captain of the team #9 Benjie Dagle, who also hit a along a long shot but their opponents were armed with the same level of enthusiasm and collected most of the points from captain of the team #24 Chris Mapagmahal, inclusive of a 3-point shot, backed by another long shot from #15 Joseph Tagatag that saw them behind by only one point 17-18 by the end of the first quarter.
It was not very long before B-Cielos moved their game to a higher level and put on a strong line of defense through #17 Rene Orbita while some passes from his teammates resulted in four simultaneous shots delivered by #15 Joseph Tagatag that put them ahead. Their rivals tried to impose the same level of defense through #12 Carlos Gonzales that gave #9 Benjie Dagle and #29 Ferdie Paguio a chance to score but they were still behind by 7 points 30-37 by the end of the first half.
Meanwhile, Black and White Restaurant pressed hard on the accelerator in the 3rd quarter when they realized that B-Cielos was not an easy opponent and came up with a game plan based on a solid defense based on #11 Nino Belarmino who also contributed 10 points in the same quarter alone but it seems that their antidote failed to work on the enthusiastic team of B-Cielos who also maintained good defense through #10 Edmar Briones backed by accurate shots on the basket by #15 Joseph Tagatac, #24 Chris Mapagmahal and #21 Mark Pacheco along with 3-point shots from #77 Ryan Duranduran that saw then take a 9-point 60-51 lead.
The last 10 minutes of the ballgame saw that B-Cielos were not complacent at any point while their opponents were made to sweat as they put in their best to level with them. Black and White maintained a strong defense through #7 Angel Bolagtia but he failed to finish the game as he was soon fouled out although #11 Nino Belarmino showed the same intensity in the defense that helped #5 Orly Plandez and #29 Ferdie Paguio to build up the score.
B-Cielos concluded the last quarter with some brilliant shooting from #15 Joseph Tagatag that saw them walk home with a 75-66 victory.
#15 Joseph Tagatag of B-Cielos was named Best Player of the Game.
Initial Standings
Rank Team W L
1 Hilton Kuwait Resort 2
2 B-Cielo 2 1
3 LXG 1
5 Wizara 1
6 N-Dash
Black & White Restaurant 2
FBL-BAP officials would like to inform everyone that the Inter-Company League is exclusively for the bonafide employees of the competing organizations.
Registration for the ongoing 20th Inter-Company is still open. For details call FBL President Joel Acuna-6651-5183 and BAP Commissioner Demos Arienda-6608-2238.
FBL-BAP organizers would like to offer special thanks to Menilyn Lavarez AIM Global Caroll Ong from Metrobank Super Bilis Padala and Beth Garello and Reynaldo Santos from Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corporation for supporting their events.