ALKHOBAR: Lhito Bautista’s Arabian Point Eight Power Co. Ltd. (APEP) overcame tough Al Falak to pull off a dominating finish in a 95-80 victory to clinch the championship crown in Inter-Company Division Friday at Al Qadisia sports gymnasium here.
It was APEP’s first successful stint in UFBF after reaching the semifinals last season.
Fahd Alireza Engineering Consultants is the tournament’s major sponsor. Mohd Dossary Hospital, Bangus Restaurant and McDonalds are minor sponsors.
Fitness instructor James Chua proved once again that he is one of APEP’s pillars as he fired 20 points that earned him the MVP award while Arnold Arguelles, Ian Java and Ricardo Sotto scored 24, 23 and 11 markers that carried their team to victory. Falak’s ace guard Jonathan Marinas led all scorers with 29 points while Albert Suing and Macky Tapnio poured in 18 and 17 points respectively and Jeremiah Arenas added 10 in the losing effort.
The veteran guard Marinas led Falak’s offense as he scored seven of his 9 points in the third quarter and teammate Suing added 4 more points to keep the game close at 47-50, 6 minutes remaining but APEP’s Chua, Java, Arguelles and Sotto scored successive baskets to extend the lead by 11, 67-56, on Chua’s 3-point play, 2 minutes remaining. Falak’s Cornelius Logica answered with a triple, but the trio of Chua, Arguelles and Java continued the onslaught and finish the third quarter with a 15-point bubble, 76-61.
Chua was joined by teammates Arguelles and Java in the mythical five alongside Marinas and Suing (Falak) while APEP’s Erick Lanceta was awarded the best coach.
Kanz Jewelry recorded its first victory by thumping the Alpha Male, 81-66, to grab the championship title in Junior D5-B.
Reyes bagged the MVP award. He was also in the mythical five alongside Albayda and Bantillan (Kanz) and Ejhay Rioveros and Darius Martizano (Alpha Male). Best coach award went to Kanz’ Dennis Manarang.
Pol Blanca’s PCB Bulldogs continued its domineering performance to record a 96-85 victory over newcomer BPC Express of Alex Mejia to clinch the Junior D-4 championship trophy.
MVP Gino Flores scored 29 points, Julius Eleazar finished with 22 while Marvin Ceniza, Jonathan Tamayo combined for 22 points.
Flores was joined by Eleazar, Tamayo (PCB), Villareal and Singian (BPC) in the mythical five selection while Marlon Padilla was named Best Coach.
In the semifinals match, Centrepoint survived an end game battle by edging SADARA, 87-86, to book a place in the finals against Khobar Hotshots who later beat the depleted Extra Shockwave, 85-77, in Junior D5-A.
Back-to-back MVP Mark Vergara led SADARA with 27 points while Joel Llego added 15 and Randy Lagumbayan with 10.
Meanwhile, the PBA Legends are set to play an exhibition match on March 4 (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) against the formidable FAEC team which beat ARCC in their one-day tournament held at Al Taloup Gym in Jubail, 95-87, on Jan. 29. The event will take place at Al Qadisia Sports Gymnasium in Agrabiyah, Alkhobar, sponsored by Cebuana Lhuillier Remit, Blckmrkt, TV5 and OSN, in coordination with FAPS-Riyadh and UFBF-FIBA in the Eastern Region. Members of the PBA Legends are Gherome Ejercito, EJ Feihl, Jerry Codinera, Marlou Aquino, Bal David, Noli Locsin and Kenneth Duremdes.
