In an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation between the two sides with the best players in Jeddah, Friendster blinked to the Vipers during the game that mattered most in the TFC Kingdom Cup basketball tournament.
The Vipers watched Friendster crumble like a deck of cards in the last 2:02 to turn a tight game into a decisive 107-99 victory in Game 3 of the best-of-three series to decide the semifinal qualifier from the western region in the three months long competition featuring some of the big names in Filipino basketball in the Kingdom.
Stars also qualified during the last week of eliminations on Friday, closing out their own series after a 94-75 triumph over Blazers in the decider at the Al Yamama Sports Complex court. Stars won the series opener by 89-67 while the Blazers bounced back in the second game 78-77 to force Game 3.
The Stars demonstrated their readiness for the tough grind ahead in the decisive win against the Blazers thanks mainly to the trio of James Smith, Roel Asay and Sherwin Garcia.
Garcia and Smith emerged the best players during the Riyadh eliminations with total statistical points of 154 and 146 respectively.
Joining the Vipers and Stars in the double round robin home-and-away semifinals were Oilers who advanced the previous week by sweeping the series against Blazers.
The first game is set for today with the Oilers to host Stars at the Al Nahda Stadium in Dammam. Next Friday, the Oilers again play host to the FBA Vipers.
Joseph Ubalde enjoyed a double double performance of 26 points and 10 rebounds in addition to 4 shot blocks and 5 steals including one which he completed off Yoyong Akmad with 1:50 to play that sent the Vipers on the way to victory.
Before that play point guard Robby David’s free-throw actually started the venomous 12-2 run by the Vipers and dissolved the last deadlock at 95 and in which Friendster self-destructed with turnovers.
All told the deeper bench of the Vipers was the big difference — Ron Magat had his shooting touch back after an injury to finish with 24 points, David had 12 points and 6 assists and Ryan Aguam played tough defense and made 15 points to go with 6 assists, three rebounds and 4 steals including a big one off tall Mark Basa that he converted giving Vipers a six-point lead, 101-95, with 55 ticks left. Also, power forward Raymond Matias had 10 points and 6 rebounds for the Vipers team touted to have the younger players among the three qualifiers as it looks to go all the way to the championship under the guidance of veteran coach Boy Corsega and team manager Francis Magat.
Cris Melebo’s Friendster has had its moments, taking a 30-19 lead to close the first quarter and getting back in the game each time the Vipers would threaten to run away. Vipers head their first sizeable lead at 45-34 and a desperation three by Brian Adaya that swished the net put them ahead by 9 at 79-70 going into the final period.
Christian Guimpatan top-scored for the Friendster with 20 points, Jay Lim added 18 while Diego Domalogdog and Basa each had 14 points.
An overflow crowd came to watch the big game at the Sheraton Sports Complex court. Vipers leveled the series 96-90 last week after Friendster took the opener 100-92.
Vipers, Stars advance in TFC Kingdom Cup
Vipers, Stars advance in TFC Kingdom Cup
San Antonio Spurs extend domination of NBA-best Thunder
- After roaring to a 24-1 start, the Thunder have dropped four of their past six games — three of those losses coming to the Spurs
- Houston’s Amen Thompson scored 26 points to lead the Rockets over the host Los Angeles Lakers 119-96
- At New York, Jalen Brunson scored 34 points to lead the host Knicks over Cleveland 126-124
NEW YORK: Reigning champion Oklahoma City have the NBA’s best record, but they cannot beat San Antonio, with superstar Victor Wembanyama coming off the bench Thursday to help lift the Spurs to an emphatic 117-102 victory.
De’Aaron Fox scored a game-high 29 points while Wembanyama had 19 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes and guard Stephon Castle added 19 points for the Spurs, who stretched their win streak to eight games.
“My first Christmas game,” Fox said. “It feels great getting another victory.”
After roaring to a 24-1 start, the Thunder have dropped four of their past six games — three of those losses coming to the Spurs.
“When you play a team of this caliber, the details are much more magnified,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “We did a phenomenal job as the game progressed adhering to those nuances.”
Wembanyama wouldn’t call it a statement win for the season but he says the Spurs have learned from beating the Thunder.
“I’m not really sure it’s smart to think so far into the future,” said Wembanyama.
“This is like a playoff series. We played them three times in 10 days so we learned a lot on the technical side.”
Oklahoma City lost for the first time in 15 home games this season despite 22 points by reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Thunder sank their first seven shots to take an 18-12 lead but the Spurs closed the first quarter on an 11-0 run for a 41-36 edge and never looked back.
“The guys were working their butts off,” Johnson said.
The Spurs improved to 23-7, second in the Western Conference behind the Thunder at 26-5.
Fox made 12-of-19 shots from the floor, 3-of-4 from three-point range.
“He was carrying us a little bit,” Wembanyama said. “He’s a guy who can make things happen.”
The Spurs have not reached the playoffs since 2019 and have not won a playoff series since 2017.
In other games, Houston’s Amen Thompson scored 26 points to lead the Rockets over the host Los Angeles Lakers 119-96.
Kevin Durant added 25 points and Alperen Sengun had 14 points and 12 rebounds for Houston.
“We wanted to come out here and play with a sense of urgency for 48 minutes,” Durant said. “The basketball world is watching you tonight.”
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 25 points while four-time NBA MVP LeBron James added 18 points.
James, the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, played in his 20th NBA Christmas contest, his holiday record falling to 11-9.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves had 12 points in 15 minutes before leaving with left calf soreness.
Knicks outlast Cavs
At New York, Jalen Brunson scored 34 points to lead the host Knicks over Cleveland 126-124.
The Cavaliers, led by Donovan Mitchell’s 34 points, grabbed a 103-86 lead with 10:25 remaining but New York closed on a 40-21 run to seize the victory.
Benson, who hit 6-of-12 from three-point range, lifted the Knicks ahead for good at 121-119 on a three-pointer with 65 seconds remaining.
It was Benson’s 90th 30-point game as a Knick, a total eclipsed only by Patrick Ewing and Carmelo Anthony.
Jordan Clarkson added 25 points off the New York bench.
At San Francisco, Stephen Curry scored 23 points despite shooting 6-of-18 overall and 2-of-10 from three-point range to lead Golden State over Dallas 126-116.
“Didn’t shoot it well but we got a great win,” Curry said. “Just focused on the details of what this team can do to win.”
Seven Warriors scored in double figures with Jimmy Butler contributing 14 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
The Mavericks’ 19-year-old forward Cooper Flagg, the second-youngest NBA Christmas starter after 18-year-old James in 2003, scored a game-high 27 points.
Dallas star Anthony Davis exited after playing only 11 minutes with what appeared to be a groin injury.
Dallas guard Klay Thompson scored seven points in a return to the Bay Area, where he helped Golden State capture four NBA titles.
