Sharbatly Fruit nips Hyper Panda to complete Grand Slam; Al-Majdouie repeat as EPBL champ

Romeo Navidad December 22, 2011

Dammam, Saudi Arabia – Best Coach awardee Ed Bation brought his Grand Slam touch to the League C Division of Al Falak Cup as he steered Sharbatly Fruit to a third consecutive crown in the Eastern Province Basketball League (EPBL) at the Al-Ettifaq Club here on Friday.

Sharbatly Fruit proved too much against a depleted Hyper Panda team as it hammered a 107-67 while Al-Majdouie team returned to spotlight as it dismantles Saipem Snamprogetti 71-58 in the Intercompany A.

With three-main players did not show up for Hyper Panda, Sharbatly dominated the game early as the first quarter for a commanding 32-8 and never looked back as they closed out the best-of-three showdown via a 2-0 sweep and earned three successive championship. A rare feat which has only few teams did in the 24-year history of EPBL. Dammam Warriors team was the last to earn it in 2009 Conferences.

Sharbatly, which won the series opener via overtime, 90-86, got a six-player balance scoring attacked lead by Macoy Rivera with 22 points; Oliver Tano tallied 21 points; Arnold Arguiles contributed personal conference-best 20 points; Cris Taguiam and Joel Lumbera had 16 points apiece while Erwin Pascua added 11 points.

Swingman Inciong of the Panda team had 19 points; Marvin Francisco had 15 points while Aldwin de Jesus got 11 points, but no other Panda players contributed more in scoring.

Sweet shooting guard Joel Lumbera, was named Most Valuable Player of the conference, and he was joined by teammates Macoy Rivera and Cris Taguiam for the Mythical Five Selection together with Inciong and ace defender Aldwin de Jesus of Panda team.

Meanwhile, Al-Majdouie Group took advantage via 71-58 victory when Saipem Snamprogetti main gunner John Supan did not suit up in uniform while sitting on the bench with a swelling right hand to take their best-of-three finale, a 2-0 decision in Intercompany A division.

It was not as easy though, as Saipem fight from start to finish and even grab the lead at the half, 32-31.

Majdouie’s Marvin Ruado exploded two consecutive three-point shots; Elmer Aure contributed four unanswered points, and Jeffrey Salvador came off the bench with a booming 3 in the third quarter for a commanding 15-point advantage 56-41, entering the fourth period.

The coaching duo of Kitz Moreno and Ronald Floresca paid off for Al-Majdouie’s unbeatable run in the Al Falak Conference as they unanimously named Best Coach Awardee. Ruado’s scoring and defensive play earned him the Most Valuable Player while forward Jonjon Javier and 6’2” swingman Elmer Suare got the Mythical Five selection with John Supan and playmaker Leonardo Resane of Saipem Snamprogetti.

Tags: Sports , Basketball , EPBL