RIYADH, 4 April 2004 — Rockland and Mindanao WRJ both advanced into the semifinals in style as they crossed the century mark in beating separate opponents Friday in the first Mindanao Overseas Workers Friendship Basketball Tournament for the Arab News Cup at the Sheraton Riyadh Hotel and Towers court here.
Rockland, getting 28 points from veteran Boggy Dibaratun, 27 from Jalal Pundoma and 22 from Sailanie Macapaar, swamped Team Falcons 112-74 to join Odyssey as the semifinalists from North group with a 3-1 win-loss record. Mindanao WRJ got the required 3-1 card they needed to advance from South group by blasting Rio Grande 102-86 in the second of two morning matches of the day.
Dino Ampaso led all scorers with 31, Rashed Mangotara added 22, Alisasa Miraato made 15 and Rayan Musor contributed 11 in the smashing WRJ victory. Odyssey took control in the second quarter and cruised to a 97-80 triumph over Saco Hardware for a sweep of the four elimination round games in the group in the tournament sponsored by Arab News. Mohammed Yassin Ameril shot 27 points to go with 19 from Bonnie Lidasan, 12 from Hayle and 10 each from Farid Badawi and Harris Tan as Odyssey ran roughshod over a Saco squad that was led by Abet Macaumbao with 23 points.
WEMOWA-Extra, the only other unbeaten team in the fold, go for a sweep of South group when it meet Al Omar at the windup of eliminations next Friday.
In the nightcap of the usual quadruple bill, Greenland won an absorbing battle with Al Omar 95-84. Two fastbreak baskets by Gamal Bantuas and another by Subair Gandamura against a single marker by Sadat Kamal helped swing the tide in Al Omar’s way 57-53 from a 51-all tie. But Greenland, quarterbacked by star guard Amen “Ango” Ali, put paid to Omar’s hopes by uncorking a 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter 80-68 from a 73-66 count at the end of the third period.
Shanok Alamada led Greenland with 28 points, Ali tossed in 25 and Bantuas 21. Sadat teamed up beautifully with brother Hermie (21 points), Monem Buat compiled 15 points and Moden Mohammed canned in 13 in Al Omar’s losing stand.
In another development, organizers announced the tentative opening on May 14 of the 5th Conference Basketball Fever in Riyadh 2004 at the Sheraton Riyadh Hotel court. Also, on May 7, the first Friday Morning Basketball Tournament is set to open. Entries are now being accepted for both tournaments. The deadline for registration is set for April 30. The 5th Conference Basketball Fever is divided into the 5-8 Below, Inter-company Bonafide and Inter-company Open categories, according to Carlos D. Ollero, chairman of the organizing Riyadh Inter-hotels Sports Committee. He said the Friday Morning Tournament will be an Inter-company Open.For more details, contact Chito Solis on 052-658-235, Jake Floria on 052-918-300, Joy Maglapit on 454-3300 ext. 8885, Rene de los Reyes on 454-3300 ext. 8875 and Ollero on 454-3300 ext. 8820.
