Prince Sultan Nursing and Physiotherapy scored inspiring opening day wins in the 2nd PSMMC-Sports Affair Basketball Club (SABC) Inter-Department Basketball tournament at the Prince Sultan Military Medical City Skydome basketball court here.
Nursing of Lino Sabalboro and Amie Sajor brought down Zahran Housekeeping 90-81 in overtime. Both teams played good defense the entire game with a four-point margin to Nursing 18-14 at the end of the first quarter courtesy of Rey Zornosa, Ferdie Ligan, Lorvic Baroma, Dexter Sabidalas and Mark Diaz.
Housekeeping, coached by Moner Camad, and bannered by the trio of rookie Jay Camad, Peter Abante and Randy Abana as well as Oscar Pascua and Nurasid Omar forge a 37-all deadlock at the turn. With four seconds to play, Nursing was leading 79-77 when Ligan fouled Camad who converted the two free-throws to force overtime. In the extra period, the Nurses closed the game out with an 11-2 windup.
Last season’s first runner-up Physiotherapy of Edgar Jimenez and Ariel Dizon whipped defending champion External Maintenance of Reggie Salonga 87-71.
The maintenance team ended the initial period up by three points 18-15, but that was just about it as Physiotherapy never looked back after it swelled a 39-34 halftime lead to 61-52 on the way to victory. Dennis Suare, Lito Manalo, Mitchelle Lacap and Dong Abacial led the winning team.
In other games of the week, Catering-Fire Department anchored by the trio of Joseph Rapsing, Ryann Fabregas and Rommuel Alega routed Portering 83-65; Rehab Nursing of Eric Calubayan trounced Cath Lab of Alfred Rogel 64-57, PSCC Housekeeping beat Prosthetics 74-68 while Zahran Maintenance cruised past Laundry 61-50.
Mobily, Enjaz, Western Union, PAG-IBIG Funds and Systagenix are tournament sponsors.
Selected scores:
Prince Sultan Nursing (90) R. Zornosa 21, L. Baroma 20, F. Ligan 10, M. Diaz 10, D. Sabidalas 8, E. Abanes 8, R. Figueras 6, V. Yabut 3, L. Rafanan 2, M. Vilches 2 Zahran
Housekeeping (81) J. Camad 24, R. Abana 18, N. Omar 14, P. Abante 9, O. Pascua 8, M. Camad 6, E. Ariola 2
Physiotherapy (87) D. Suare 28; Lito Manalo 21, M. Lacap 16, D. Abacial 13, E. Columbres 4, C. Burgos 3, N. Marcial 2 External
Maintenance (71) L. Arpon 24, M. Tinonga 22, B. Abdurahim 12, A. Loremia 11, P. Walid 2
Catering-Fire (83) J. Rapsing 15, R. Fabregas 15, R. Alega 12, J. Camins 9, P. Merquita 7, F. Galido 6, J. Arcos 6, F. Hacob 5, G. Martin 4, O. Abdulwahab 2, N. Bacaraman 2
Portering (65) A. Nakan 29, M. Sales 14, L. Reyes 7, M. Quila 6, R. Javillonar 4, R. Morales 3, Nazir 2
Nursing, Physiotherapy take SABC Basketball openers
Nursing, Physiotherapy take SABC Basketball openers
Rajkovic excels as Al-Ittihad cruise to victory against Al-Shabab
- Al-Ittihad secure fifth Saudi Pro League win of the season with a 2-0 victory
JEDDAH: It has not been the start to the season that Al-Ittihad fans had anticipated. Nevertheless, on their return to Saudi Pro League action after a 36-day hiatus, the defending champions delivered a performance that offered renewed confidence ahead of a demanding run of seven matches in the space of 30 days.
The opening exchanges proved far from straightforward for The Tigers.
Attempting to play out from the back, they were punished within the first two minutes as Abdullah Matuq pounced on a mistake to find himself one-on-one with Predrag Rajkovic, only for the Serbian goalkeeper to produce the first of several crucial saves. Just 60 seconds later, Rajkovic was called into action again, this time denying a header from a corner.
Momentum soon shifted. Roger Fernandes began to cause problems down the left wing, his quick footwork getting the better of Al-Shabab’s defence before he delivered a low cross into the box. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, aided by Karim Benzema’s intelligent screening of Saad Balobaid, met it to open the scoring in the 16th minute.
Al-Ittihad came close to doubling their advantage in the 28th minute. Mohannad Al-Shangeeti struck the far post with a powerful effort, before his follow-up attempt narrowly missed the target, drifting wide of Marcelo Grohe’s goal.
Grohe was later called upon to keep Al-Shabab in the contest, producing a fine save in the 58th minute to deny Benzema after the Frenchman was released by a perfectly weighted pass from Steven Bergwijn.
Al-Ittihad continued to dominate possession, though Imanol Alguacil’s side managed to limit Fernandes’ influence by committing extra defensive cover on the left flank.
That adjustment failed to account for Al-Shangeeti’s runs from deep, as he surged down the right to find Bergwijn, who finished first time to seal the contest for the hosts in the 85th minute.
Late substitute Abdulaziz Al-Bishi thought he had added a third in the closing stages, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
The win lifts Al-Ittihad into sixth place on 17 points, while Al-Shabab remain just two points above the relegation zone, extending their winless run to eight matches since their Matchday 2 victory over Al-Hazem.
