JEDDAH: Dabarkadz completed their remarkable run to the Friday Morning Division title, beating Event Mall 65-55 in Game 3 of the best-of-three series last week in the Boy Teves Basketball Tournament organized by Overseas Filipino Basketball League (OFBL) at Time-out Sport Academy court on Television Street, Ghulail District on the outskirts of Jeddah.
Dabarkadz qualified straight to the final after sweeping the eliminations at 5-0 and their only defeat was in the first game of the championship series in the tournament sponsored by Al-Zugbi Sports Tailoring, Pepsi, Amaia Land and Art’s Cuisine.
Mangalindan’s breakout performance and Querubin’s leadership on the floor that saw him set the plays and hit the open man were chief in the Game 3 success of the Dabarkadz. Mangalindan finished with 21 points and Querubin 9, while Cruz with 13 points was the only other player in double figures.
Castillo and Razal, with 29 points between them, tried to rally Event Mall to no avail.
The veteran Cartegena showed no ill effects of jetlag after returning to the Kingdom from his annual vacation in the Philippines to score 22 points and help Compass Ocean Logistics beat powerhouse Airnet 85-83. Veteran point guard Julia complemented Cartegena’s efforts, contributing 14 points and directing Compass’ offensive ball traffic. It was the second straight win for Compass.
Delta Water Commander slipped past great rival SAJCO 79-78 to escape the possible tiebreaker in fourth spot.
Fajardo completed a game-winning three-point play with 5.1 seconds left in the final quarter and he was named Best Player of the game.
Fajardo totaled 22 points and received support from Ballinan and Manalo who tossed in 17 and 13 points respectively.
GCT bounced back with a 73-65 win over struggling G4s 73. Mahilum was chosen the Best Player of the game with 23 points.
Butler stayed undefeated in the tournament, trouncing Takbo 67-59. Delos Santos with 19 points was the Best Player.
Meantime, the OFBL 2nd Reinforced Friday Morning Division tournament will have its grand opening this Friday. Eight teams have confirmed participation.
The scores:
Dabarkadz (65) Mangalindan 21, Cruz 13, Querobin 9, Tudla 6, Olegario 5, Ocampo 5, Francia 5 Cagamda 1
Event Mall (55) Castillo 11, Razal 8, Encabo 8, Tilo 7, Bristol 5, Hussien 4, Vallejo 3, Ecopete 3, Ahmad 2, Latoreno 2, Paraguas 2
Compass (85) Cartagena 22, Julia 14, Padernal 12, Viscayno 9, Sarangay 8, Ramos 8, Cudal 4, Arboleda 4, Guevarra 4
Airnet (83) Alturas 20, Basilio 15, Razal 10, Binas 8, Banag 7, Bristol 7, Ismael 6, Daham 5, Diaz 5
Delta Water (79) Fajardo 22, Ballinan 17, Manalo 13, Morales 11, Espiritu 9, Serencio 7
SAJCO (78) Dano 19, Tagara 16, Sison 12, De Leon 10, Alberio 10, Amado 7, Mallare 5
Dabarkadz OFBL Friday Morning Division champion
Dabarkadz OFBL Friday Morning Division champion
Sabalenka beats Svitolina to reach Australian Open final
- Top-seeded Belarusian Sabalenka will bid for a third crown at Melbourne Park in four years and fifth Grand Slam title overall
MELBOURNE: Aryna Sabalenka swept to her fourth successive Australian Open final with a 6-2 6-3 win over Ukrainian Elina Svitolina on Thursday in a semifinal overshadowed by geopolitical tension.
Top-seeded Belarusian Sabalenka will bid for a third crown at Melbourne Park in four years and fifth Grand Slam title overall against the winner of the late semifinal between Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina at Rod Laver Arena.
“I just cannot believe that. It’s an incredible achievement but the job is not done yet,” world number one Sabalenka said on court. “I’m super happy with the win. She’s such a tough opponent and has been playing incredible tennis the whole week.”
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, for which Belarus has been a staging ground, Russian and Belarusian players have been banned from representing their nations at the Grand Slams and tour events.
Svitolina has been vocal about the strain of playing the countries’ players, and said she hoped to bring her nation “light” at the Australian Open after a tough winter.
The 27-year-old Sabalenka, however, crushed those hopes in a furious display of raw power.
She became the third woman in the professional era to reach the Australian Open decider four times in a row following Evonne Goolagong Cawley (1971-76) and Martina Hingis (1997-2002), who each played six finals in a row.
“Gutted not to make it through tonight,” Svitolina told reporters. “Of course it’s very difficult when you’re playing a world number one on fire.”
Svitolina comprehensively beaten
While 31-year-old Svitolina was comprehensively defeated, she fought hard from the first ball to the last.
The 12th seed started with tenacity, thumping a forehand winner down the line on the first point returning serve.
Sabalenka wobbled, giving up two break points with a loose backhand, but blasted her way out of danger.
There was early tension at 2-1 when Svitolina was awarded a point mid-rally, with Sabalenka penalized for hindering the point with a late grunt.
Incensed, she demanded a video review but the point stood.
She channelled her frustration into breaking Svitolina, then held for a 4-1 lead.
Pinning Svitolina well behind the baseline, Sabalenka grabbed three set points and converted the third, roaring “Let’s go!” after a sizzling cross-court backhand winner.
After 41 minutes of earth-shaking power, Sabalenka’s weapons finally misfired.
She dropped the opening service game of the second set with a clutch of errors, raising cheers from a crowd yearning for a contest.
But Sabalenka steadied herself, breaking Svitolina twice in succession.
Svitolina never dropped her head and earned a break point when trailing 4-2 to put the match back on serve.
Sabalenka was not to be denied, though.
After thrashing a forehand winner down the line to save the break point, she proved unstoppable.
Grabbing two match points with a huge serve, Sabalenka closed it out in style, swooping forward with a forehand cross-court winner to book her chance of claiming a third trophy at Melbourne Park.
