KUWAIT CITY, April 2: PHILBACK officials held an opening and award presentation ceremony Friday at the Khalijia Arabic School premises to kick off their 8th Conference games of the Inter-Company, Inter-Medical and Open Divisions. The ceremony was immediately followed by six scheduled games played in the various divisions with Nasser Sports having and easy opening day ride over Warbar 106-79 in the Inter-Company division while Alganim Cilek edged Ikea 95-87. Below are results of the week-end’s game played on Friday: Alghanim 95 vs Ikea 87; Nasser Sports 106 vs Warba 79; Bayan Dental 98 vs Hadi Clinic 70; Riggae 71 vs Jahra Abbott 60; Panik 61 vs Liaco 47; Asnan 93 vs Wizara 60.

After opening prayer led by Technical Head Jess Garcia, the national anthems of Kuwait and the Philippines were played with opening remarks delivered by PHILBACK President Nick Niegas, paving the way for inspirational talk delivered by Dr Salem Yacoub, a representative from Discover Islam. Best Uniform award for the Inter-Medical Division was presented to the Nadi Clinic team, with the same award for the Inter-Company Division going to the Nasser Sports Center team. Best Uniform for the Open Division went to D’Lush. The Inter-Medical Best Muse award went to Ivy Flores of the Asnan team while Rawan Abu-Grad of Go-Sports team won the Inter-Company Best Muse award with Rosalie Buena of the D’Lush team also clinching same award for the Open Division.
The Inter-Medical Division teams lined up to participate in the league include Cardiac Center, Bayan Dental, MOH-Wizara, MOH-Jahra, MOH-Panik, Hadi Clinic, MOH-Vipers, MOH-Riggae, Asnan and Yiaco Medical.

Elsewhere in the Inter-Company Division, the line-up of teams include Safat Al-Ghanim, IKEA, Kharafi, Nasser Sports Center, Barque, Go-Sports, HEISCO, Fudd Rockers Burgers, Mathar, Warba, Mr. Baker and Kuwait Flour Mills.
The Open Division teams also include ITHC, D’Lush, Salwa United, FKTC, Mixers, Rock, Brgy-Tropa and 59ers.
The six-game schedule kicked off with the rwo Inter-Company giants, Ikea and Safat Alghanim locking horns. Ikea’s Daryl Sauco drew first blood with a long range 3-pointer while Allan Villanueva and Edward Mangalua joined the chorus to take Ikea to a 65-56 third quarter finish.
Alghanim’s Topher Garospe partnering with Marion Mercado however powered their way with 24 and 23 points, with Michael Dizon and Jeffery Apulli adding 10 apiece and a whole team effort to halt the Ikea squad in their tracks to win their first game of the season 95-87.

Nasser Sport got off to a winning start in their game two Inter-Company group campaign with a balanced scoring game against the Warba squad. Joey Agra, Ken Najera, Allan Villanueva and Cris Ingal scored 14, 11, 9 and 8 points each to lead the sports apparel specialists to the 106-79 win with #18 Ladia and #9 Salgarino tallying 15 and 12 to pace the loser.
In the first Inter-Medical encounter of the day, Bayan Dental’s Kenneth Najera, Jayson Rodrigues and Clayton Sepulveda led their side in a balanced scoring game and held the unpredictable Hadi Clinic with a pressing defense to deny 3-pt threat Joel De La Cruz easy looks at the basket, leaving John Razonable’s baskets inconsequential en route to posting their first win in the opening match of the group.
Najera finished with 29 while Rodrigues made 19 and Clayton 16 in their winning effort. Razonable and De La Cruz chipped in 22 and 14 apiece to pace the losing side.
Raymundo wrought magic for MOH-Riggae with 19 points and numerous rebounds while Adorio and Mejia bulldozed into the game in the dying minutes with crucial go-ahead points 19, 14 and 11to nail the Riggae victory.

The Jahra Abbott squad found their trump card in Joy Chevas, who was uncontainable in the start and end, finishing with 12 points despite a temporary lull in the mid quarters.
Raymundo inflicted a slow damage on the opposition taking 19 points quietly, cashing in on the cracks in the defense to finish first quarter with a 14-point lead, 25-11, but were slowed down in the ensuing two quarters to end the third quarter dead even at 51-51 due to a change in strategy adopted by the Jahra squad that made their attacks hard to stop. Riggae, however managed to overhaul their game to turn the tables in their favor in the final moments to finish with a 71-60 score line in their favor.
The third Inter-Medical game between Liaco Kings and Panik was a thriller with prolific scoring by both teams, though Panik proved to be the dominant pack. The game ended in Panik’s pocket 61-47.

The first round belonged to #55 Queja, who monopolized the Liaco basket with practice-session élan, scoring 10 for the Panik. After paling temporarily in the second quarter, Queja roared back in to continue his raids, partnering with #26 Gadon who joined Queja’s loot for an overall haul of 18 for the Panik squad. Meanwhile, Tony Mercado was a constant thorn in the Panik flesh with his regular forays that kept Liaco in the game. Mercado scored 15, including a distant 3-pointer in the last moments.
The fourth and final clash of the day saw Wizara do battle with Asnan in an Inter-Medcal game with Asnan on top against Wizara to post a comfortable 93-60 win. Wizara lagged feebly behind right from the start, closing in at 60-50 in the third quarter, their best reply to the Asnan broadside.
Asnan’s Charlie Hipayo was the fiercest scorer of all roping in 31 and followed by his teammates Jeff Espadero and Jeje Ricable who shot 18 and 11 markers apiece. Wizara’s Marlow Rulona and Marchoni Aquino shot 17 and 11 apiece.