KUWAIT CITY, July 28: The Giordano/ LBC/ Jolibee Filipino Basketball League (FBL) and Volleyball conferences Friday had some close matches and some lackluster lags.
The day saw four men’s basketball and two women’s volleyball games. The first men’s basketball game fixture saw Samuel downing Fish Market 70-62 paced by Sumat and Bumagat, who displayed flamboyance in the court to keep the opposition clueless about their maneuvers.
In the second quarter, Fish Market clawed back into the game after a first quarter setback. At 34-32, the Fish Market seemed all set to steal the thunder, but the blazing SUmat halted their advance in the following quarters.
Tolentino lent support to his frontline players, Sumat and Bugamat, in their rampage to take the Samuel 52-46 and 70-62 in the next two rounds, to seal the Fish Market fate.
Sumat was adjudged the best player in the game. Cabornida did most of the business for the Fish Market, shooting 17 points.
In the match between Baskin’s and Keo Tamaraw, the former came up trumps in a game they dominated through out. At no point of time did Tamaraw pose a challenge to the easy advance of Baskin’s.
The game progressed 15-10, 35-28, 46-42 and 65-61. The end result did not fully reflect the one-sided nature of the game, thanks to the last gasp fight from the Tamaraw.
Fajardo who scored 23 for Baskin’s was the best player of the game.
In the clash between Dessert and 59’ers, the former were handed despair after a tight match of swinging fortunes. The 59’ers won 84-61. The game opened with the 59’ers opening a yawning gap of 26-16, and followed it up 48-30, 62-41 and 84-61. The 59’ers were unstoppable in the last quarter when they ran away with the lead.
Meanwhile, Bad Bananas trounced the 4:30 AM squad 85-57, yet again proving their superiority in the conference after last week’s clincher.
The former comfortably finished 28 points ahead of the 4:30 AM. For the most part the Bad Bananas dominated, but the 4:30AM too had their moments, especially in the last quarter when they pulled their best, 24-23, which came too late in the game to be much consequence.
The quarters progressed 9-24, 19-44, 33-62 and 57-85.
The last round saw sparks flying as the nerves and brawn clashed for the ultimate glory. Jeff Pataldo was unrelenting for the Bananas. But De La Pena was seething with vengeance to see the 4:30 through to the win.
The first volleyball game of the day pitted Regency Hotel against Gulf International. The former scampered to a 2-0 victory on the back of Mariel, Gemma, Jemellie, Hennie, Narcing, Cherryl, Gina and Maria who combined as a team to deliver the win. Gulf went home empty handed after failing to clinch any set. The Regency won 25-18 and 25-11 in convincing fashion. Mariel for Regency was the best player of the game.
Fil-Q8 failed to keep last week’s momentum and was floored by Nature Spa, 2-1. Just when a rewrite of last week’s script seemed in the offing with Fil taking the first set 25-20, Nature Spa came roaring back with Yna in the second set and Alma in the final set scattering the opposition with craft and power.
Alma’s display of ball spanks for the Spa was commendable. Aileen was a delight to watch in the second and third sets, scoring fluidly. RIa, April and GIramel too pitched in with timely scores.
In the 2-set match between Go Sport and AL Ashroof, the former won convincingly in both sets, 25-18 and 25-12. Go Sport was in-charge of the game from the get go led by best player of the game Sam.