Dabarkadz in big win over Nesma in OFBL Friday Morning cagefest

Dabarkadz were in control all game long but had to hold off a late charge by a Nesma team with a taller lineup in the dying seconds to pull off a big victory, 64-61 in the OFBL 3rd Conference Friday Morning Non Rated Division at Timeout Sports Academy Gymnasium on Television St., Ghulail District on the outskirts of Jeddah.
Dabarkadz are riding a 4-game winning streak and climbed to second place at 5-2 in the team standings, with one game left vs. Jeddah Dreamers.
Despite the loss Nesma still kept the top spot and took the first semifinal seat with a 6-2 card at the close of its elimination round schedule.
Both teams played good defense the entire game, preventing easy baskets for both sides. Though Dabarkadz were leading all the time but by not more than 8 points, Nesma had managed to keep them within striking distance.
Nesma forced Dabarkadz to a slower game from a faster game they have been used to. But Dabarkadz adjusted pretty well and survived.
Dabarkadz cruised to an 8-0 lead early in the first quarter. The tandem of Ali Cruz and Oliver Keiron Reyes led Dabarkadz offense in the first period, as they combined with 14 points to finish the period ahead by 4 points 18-14.
The next stanza saw Joseph Meru convert 6 straight points all from 3 assists by Dabarkadz’ premier point guard Sid Olegario. But Nesma evenly matched their output 13-13 and the first half ended with Dabarkadz still holding a 31-27 lead.
The third quarter was a virtual showdown between the teams’ ace players: Ruzzel Mangalindan of Dabarkadz, who compensated his poor 1st quarter showing with an 83.5 field goal percentage hitting 5/6 shots to register 10 points, while Castillo of Nesma collected 11 points including 2 consecutive shots from the 3-point range for the 3rd quarter.
They closed the third quarter with Dabarkadz on top by 6 points, 50-44.
In the deciding period, Nesma applied power inside the paint, as the trio of Manlangit, Dela Cruz and Castillo kept pounding the ball inside to the basket to keep pace and to gradually cut Dabarkadz lead.
Manlangit pulled Nesma within 1 pt. with 14 seconds remaining. Then, Dabarkadz center Resty Ramirez was fouled with 8 seconds left, converting the first free throw but missing the second.
But a big offensive rebound by Jonel Cruz with a foul to boot with 5 seconds left gave Dabarkadz another chance to hike their 2 point edge only to miss the freebies.
Thanks to another critical offensive rebound by Ramirez with a foul and 3 seconds left Dabarkadz preserved the victory. Ramirez made the first free-throw and deliberately missed the second to eat time and to force Nesma to just throw the ball way far from the backcourt at the buzzer.
Mangalindan top-scored with 12 pts, followed by Ali Cruz who contributed 10, Oliver Keiron Reyes and Joseph Meru both had 8 points, Christopher Caganda had 6 pts along with 3 blocks, while Olegario, Ramirez and Ronald Albayna had 4 pts each, Ryan Verzosa and Bon Velasco had 3 points apiece and Jonel Cruz 2 for Dabarkadz.
Nesma relied on Castillo, who led the way with 17 points, Dela Cruz added 14, Manlangit 12, Villanueva 7, Calluag 6, Tolentino 4, and Dolor 2.
In the other Friday Morning Non Rated Division matches, Yummy Yummy strengthened its hopes for a semifinal berth, crushing Toyota2 83-61, to end its elimination round at 5-3 card.
Yummy’s fate will be decided by the remaining matches of the other three contenders, Dabarkadz (5-2), Toyota2 (4-2) and Jeddah Dreamers (4-2), who won the other match against AMAIA 79-65.
Meantime, in the Reinforced Evening Division, Toyota improved to 3-1, beating Al Jeraisy 94-79 last Thursday. BHBC trounced M. Gharib 85-78 , to stay undefeated at 4-0 last Friday.
Also last Friday evening, Magdalo routed BHBC 79-63, to remain spotless at 5-0, in the Above 40 Division. And BUPA maintained its top position with a victory against Ibn Sina 79-70, to close the eliminations at 6-1 standing in the Bonafide Evening Division, which played the semifinals last night with No. 2 Zagzoog (5-2) up against No. 3 Hidada (5-2) for the first final seat. Top-ranked BUPA (6-1) faces No. 4 Al Majal (4-3) for the second final berth today.