E. A. Juffali & Bros. tops first round in FBL event

Host team E. A. Juffali & Bros. closed the first round eliminations at the top of the Inter-Company Bona fide team standings at 3-1, beating Fuddruckers S@H at the weekend in the Filsama Basketbal League 7th Conference at the NAI Juffali Compound court in Bawadi District here.
Nonoy Dones scored 24 points, Dela Paz added 19 and Grison 12 as Juffali used a run-and-gun game to win its third straight after dropping its first assignment.
The defeat dropped Fuddruckers, which drew 25 points from Nanding Unas and 20 from Melendez, to 2-2 in the team standings in a tie with idle Danube Himalaya and Fuddruckers.
Al Tazaj tied Arabian Homes at 4-0 in the Non Rated B Division after it brought down Compass Ocean Logistics of Alex Bedia 122-95 in the first game Friday. Tazaj and Arabian Homes faced off last night to contest the No. 1 quarterfinal berth and the twice-to-beat privilege.
The troika of Glen Manalili, Bautista and Magat led Tazaj coached by Gary Santos with 36, 24 and 18 points.
With the loss Compass blew its last chance to reach the next round. Maya (2-3) and Old Airport Islamic Team (1-4) are the two other quarterfinalists from Group B.
In the Non Rated A Division, Cotabato Erfan Bagedo Hospital won a lopsided game against Unidecor 107-91 in the third game Thursday to qualify third for the round of eight. Despite the loss Unidecor advanced as the fourth team from Group A in which Friendster (4-0) and Airnet Maarej (3-1) are the first two qualifiers.
Kobi Ibrahim top-scored with 31 points for Cotabato with Unas compiling 17 p;oints and Ave Ibrahim 13. For Unidecor Capina and Diaz tallied 19 and 15 points.
Doel Sportswear, reinforced by Arab players Walid Khatab and Salman, split its first two games in the Open Rated, beating Wasalak 92-76 on Thursday and taking it flush on the chin against Friendster 117-109 in a high-scoring game Friday.
Against Wasalak Doel had little trouble as it dominated both boards. Salman scored 24 points while Teddy Jamahali and Butch Maulana each made 18 points for Doel.
Diego Domalogdog and Yoyong Akmad each scored 28 points while Christian Guimpatan added 15 as Friendster stopped Doel despite the 25 and 22 points from Salman and Jamahali.
Meantime, Friendster White effectively booked a spot in the Inter-Color championship round after beating Black 100-79 in the second game Friday.
The victory gave White a 5-1 record. Red President of coach Arnold Atienza also is 5-1 having avenged its first round defeat to White 96-92 in Thursday’s opening game but still has to deal with Black and Green in its last two games in a bid to advance to the finals.
Faico Radiamoda and Unas gave White coach Amang Catador a headache by scoring 35 and 26 points respectively.
Toyota Sequoia Green defeated Blue 90-81 in the third game Friday to keep its championship hopes alive.
Zorilla, Bong Umlas and Baloloy Rojo led the Green team of Teng Laguialam and Jimmy Abdullah Beltran with 38, 18 and 12 points.