KUWAIT CITY, June 4: Veteran basketball squads found out that they could not hold their own against some of the upcoming teams Friday when they were given a thrashing in the semifinals of the 21st Open Category Goodwill Games Conference at the Bayan Bilingual School in Jabriya.
In the last match of the day, newcomers South East proved that they have the skills to beat the best as they overcame defending champions 59ers 71-57 while D’Brothers had earlier produced the first upset of the day when they tamed the leaders in the elimination round Caporia 82-72 to set up a championship clash.
The schedule for the championship finals between South East and D’Brothers along with the clash between 59ers and Caporia for the 2nd runners-up spot will be published later in the Arab Times.
Meanwhile, two games took place in 4th Inter-Company tournament which saw Hilton Kuwait Resort end Kuwait Energy’s unbeaten record with a 83-77 victory while Safir International were made to sweat before they could edge Bayan 65-64.
These quality ballgames are being officiated by Filipino Basketball League (FBL)-Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) headed by Commissioner Demos Arienda along with the following group of committed office-bearers who strive to deliver quality judgements in all the matches: James Miranda and Victoria Apostol — Time and Score Keeper respectively, BAP referees — Ferdie Tadena, Aries Buenaventura, George Panganiban, Toots Apostol, Baylon Tenorio and Joel Acuna — FBL President.
South East vs 59’ers
The last game of the day was a real treat for everyone as South East, who just joined the event only this season, displayed a lot of class and proved that they are championship material to move on to the finals after they practically crushed defending champions 59ers with relative ease to win by 14 points 71-57 although the match seemed to equally balanced in the first two quarters.
The initial quarter saw both the teams display the same level of energy as they scored 14 points each. 59ers opened up with a 3-point shot through #5 James Galendez but South East made sure that they closed the quarter on a good note as they got a long shot from #3 Joey West that brought them on level with their opponents.
However, it was not very long before both the teams showed that they were all warmed up which resulted in a seesaw battle. 59ers right from the start of the quarter produced a strong line of defense through #21 Aries Mendaros which held back their rivals while the other side of the bench made sure that they had the same level of defense with #18 Bernard Carino making things difficult for them.
South East managed to get most of their baskets through #32 Arvin Piscasio, supported by a long shot from #1 Gerbel, while from the other side of the bench #5 James Galendez once again fired in a 3-point shot accompanied by good baskets from #9 Ferdie Cortez and #1 Wilfredo Banez that resulted in them ahead of their opponents as the score was 31-28 points in their favor at the end of the first half.
But this is where the balance between both the teams ended and a one-way traffic started as South East took control of the match.
This happened from the start of the next quarter which saw South East realize that they had to come up with a game plan, based on solid defense and a good offense. They came up with brilliant back to back long shots from #32 Arvin Piscasio and #7 Gerard Minsalan supported by a large number of baskets from #1 Gerbel to take the lead.
59ers appeared stunned by their rivals performance although they displayed good defense and a nice offence but the hoops failed to favor them as the ball would not just go into the basket as South East led 53-45 at the end of the quarter.
In the last quarter of the ballgame two of 59ers premium members — #6 Don Dwiggins and #21 Aries Mendaros — were fouled out that handed their rivals the advantage and also the opportunity to strengthen their lead.
With #9 Ferdie Cortez delivering most of the scores South East never took things easy at any point as they once again collected two back to back 3-point shots from #17 Rey Masangya and #4 Caesar Jose Serrano while #18 Bernard Carino never failed to miss any chance from the free throw line that resulted in South East taking the match by 14 points and the score 71-57.
South East took not only the match but also the Best Player of the Game award when it was given to #1 Gerbel who contributed 11 points.
D’Brothers vs Caporia
D’Brothers showed some real class earlier that day when they overwhelmed one of the best teams this season Caporia by 82-72 points.Caporia had been favorites to win the match as they had dominated the elimination round in which they had finished on top after winning 10 of their 11 matches.
But as they saw, history doesn’t count much when you enter the knockout stage and all the teams restart on an equal footing with the squads in form on the day of the match moving into the next round.
The first quarter saw that D’Brothers were wearing their best shoes as they collected some good baskets from #01 Lito Fajardo along with some shots from #33 Tom Kalakian. They were also boosted by a long shot from #25 Jun Ninon.
From the other side of the bench #12 Jeremiah Masangkay and #17 Athan Lago scored most of the baskets but they came up short when the points tallied 21-17 in favor of D’Brothers at the end of the first quarter.
In the next quarter, one of Caporia’s premium members #4 Alfredo Ceballos delivered back to back long shots along with some good defense from #3 Ronnie Gallano but D’Brothers made sure that they put up the same level of defense through #05 Paul Dumdum that allowed them to get a 3-point shot from #33 Tom Kalaquian and some good baskets from #30 Arthur Pamatmat that kept them ahead by 9 points as they led 42-33 at the end of the 2nd quarter.
A tussle for supremacy was witnessed in the 3rd quarter as neither of the teams proved to be an easy prey. Although #01 Lito Fajardo and #13 Macmac Mariano received a technical foul with ball possession and free throw shots going the way of their opponents, this did not at all affect the lead of D’Brothers as the score was 65-55 at the end of the third quarter.
D’Brother’s got their baskets through #5Paul Dumdum, #27 Beltran and #30 Arthur Pamatmat while Caporia saw #4 Alfredo Ceballos, #12 Jeremiah Masangkay and #17 Athan Lago do the scoring for them.
Determination to win saw D’Brothers t move into the finals as they never took things easy at any point although two of their best team members #33 Tom Kalaquian and #05 Paul Dumdum was fouled out. They still managed to show that they had enough firepower for back to back 3-point shots as #30 Athur Pamatmat and #25 Jun Ninon found their target.
Caporia tried as hard as they could to catch up with their rivals and although they got some baskets through #16 Ernie Pascua and #17 Athan Lago, who also hit a long shot, t they fell short as D’Brothers held on for a 10-point victory with the score 82-72 when the buzzer sounded.
Wearing Jersey #30, Arthur Pamatmat who scored 16 points was given the Best Player of the Game award.
Inter-Company
Hilton vs Kuwait Energy
The first game of the day saw Hilton Kuwait Resort put on an excellent show that proved they are one of the most competitive teams this season when they thumped a depleted Kuwait Energy squad 83-77 to end the latter’s unbeaten record.
The initial quarter witnessed both the teams show a lot of class to prove that they are in form, Kuwait Energy got some good baskets from #20 Ryan Ducusin and #24 Noel Payumo along with a 3-point shot from #11 Khaled Toledo while Hilton Kuwait Resort fought back through #17 Wang and 18 Jerive with the quarter ending 19-21.
The well-oiled team of Hilton Kuwait Resort pressed on the accelerator in the 2nd quarter while also putting up a good defense through #11 Charlie Dayon and getting some outstanding shot from #8 Brian and #18 Jerive.
Kuwait Energy managed a long shot through #1 Willie Rasay, coupled with some fine shooting from #20 Ryan Ducusin and #24 Noel Payumo but they failed to catch their opponents who took a 10-point 46-36 lead by the end of the first half.
In the 3rd quarter, the 7-player team of Kuwait Energy put in their best efforts to close the gap and their hard work bore fruit as they collected two 3-point shots through #11 Khaled Toledo along with some points from #20 Ryan Ducusin. They, however, failed to perfect their shooting from the free-throw line while their rivals managed to reply to one of the long shots through #18 Jerive and also kept the lead when they consistently found the basket through #17 Wang and #8 Brian to end the quarter 5 five points ahead with the score 63-58.
The last 10 minutes of the ballgame saw Kuwait Energy never lose hope and their vigilance paid off as they collected some good baskets from #11 Khaled Toledo, #12 Edmund Mangunay and #20 Ryan Ducusin. In the process Kuwait Energy tied the score 71-71 but they seemed to have lost their energy after sometime, handing the advantage to Hilton who immediately knocked them down with an antidote of extensive defense and perfect shots from #17 Wang and #8 Brian for a 6-point 83-77 victory.
The Best Player of the Game Award was given to #18 Jerive who delivered 25 points for Hilton Kuwait Resort.
Safir vs Bayan
In one of the best games witnessed that day, Safir International outlasted newcomer Bayan by one point 65-64 after the latter nearly caused a stunning upset.
In the first quarter, the spectators were witness to a low-scoring game as both the teams appeared to be warming up. With none of the players able to penetrate the rival defence or find their mark, it was not a surprise when Safir International were only able to lead by 11-10 points.
Bayan’s performance picked up in the next quarter and they saw some brilliant shots from #18 Rey Glemao, who contributed 13 points alone in the same quarter. He kept scoring on good passes from his teammates that resulted in Bayan swinging the lead immediately in their favor while from the other side of the bench #3 Benjie Malijan did the scoring but his efforts were not enough as Bayan led 29-23 at the end of the quarter.
In the 3rd quarter, Bayan continued to maintain the same level of performance, generating good baskets through #9 Peter Vasquez and #18 Rey Glemao, who also scored a long shot.
Safir International made sure that they stayed on their trail as they put on a good defense through #9 Mandy Simbulan that provided #1 Gilbert Aragones with an easy access to the ring as he scored most of the shots but Safir International still came out short as their rivals led 45-38 at the end of the quarter.
The last quarter saw Safir International open up with a long shot through #8 Jay-R Mahilum and at the same time establish a strong line of defense through two of their best members #1 Gilbert Aragones and #3 Benjie Malijan.
Safir International got a further boost through two amazing back to back 3- pointers from #2 JR Eleazar that saw them move ahead 64-61 with only a few minutes left in the ballgame.
But things were not so easy for them as one of Bayan’s pride #18 Rey Glemao delivered a 3-point shot that brought both the teams on the same level with the score 64-64.
However, when a foul was called against Bayan it only required #1 Gilbert Aragones from Safir International to score one of the two shots from the free throw line since there was not any time left for Bayan to get back into the match and Safir International ended winners by the slimmest of margins as the score was 65-64 in their favor at the final whistle.
Safir International also took the Best Player of the Game award when it was given to #3 Benjie Malijan who contributed 24 points.
Initial Standings
Rank    Teams    W     L
1    Kuwait Energy    3    1
2    Crowne Plaza     2    0
3    Hilton Kuwait Resort    2    0
4    Safir International    2    1
5    Holiday Inn    1    1
6    MOH    0    1
7    Baroue    0    1
8    Al Tazaj    0    2
9    Bayan Palace    0    3
FBL-BAP organizers would like to offer their special thanks to the major sponsor of the tournament Mohamed Aba Zid - General Manager of Al Fuad Exchange.