Dubai: Two-time champions Al Wasl Travel crashed to their second successive loss in as many weeks when Silver Dishes breezed past them 79-67 in the 10th PBA Dubai Grand Fiesta Basketball Conference last week.
Trying to fight back from their last week's loss to Praxis Karaoke, Al Wasl Travel encountered some gritty opposition from Silver Dishes the winners of the second Ambassador's Cup earlier this year.
Former PBA Manila standout Allan Yu partnered with three-point specialist Gary Hernandez for a 19-point run as Silver Dishes trailed 15-23 at the end of the first quarter.
But the caterer's prolific playmaker Guy-guy Pondoc took Russel Badal and Sonny Toring for company to explode for a 24-12 run in the second quarter to grab the lead at 39-35.
In the third quarter, Al Wasl Travel were served well by former MBA standouts Boyet Muttia and Jonax Emnacin to regain the lead with less than a minute to go. However, two costly turnovers saw Silver Dishes ahead once again at 57-52 at the end of third period.
Thereafter, Silver Dishes took complete control of the game and powered past the travel agents.
In the inter-hotel division, Dubai International Hotel made their title intentions clear when they won against unbeaten winter league champions Ibis Novotel 79-75.
Dubai International's spitfire Edwin Pimentel took command in the opening salvo as his team led 19-16 in the first quarter.
But Ibis Novotel's Boyet Muttia and Al Federiso worked with Mhon Resquites to score 41 points in the next two quarters to go ahead 41-37 and 57-53.
In the fourth quarter, Pimentel and Joseph Osma put Dubai International back in the driver's seat at 75-73.
Tomorrow's games:
8.30am: Jebel Ali International vs Marriott Hotel. 10am: Stewart vs Al Attar Group. 11.30am: Evolution/Continental vs Homera Decor. 1.15pm: Aiwing Jetz vs Red Scissors. 3pm: Silver Dishes vs Moneygram Class A. 5pm: Praxis Karaoke vs UAE Exchange Class A. 7pm: UAE Inter-club game.
