Defending champions Al Wasl Travel found the cool and swift shooting of Roy Lura too much to handle as they slipped to a 74-88 defeat at the hands of UAE Exchange in the opening game of the five-match Class A final of the 9th Dubai PBA Conference.
Lura, adjudged the best import last season, topscored with 27 points to leave the defending champions gasping.
Playing without their reliable court general Tek Regidor, Al Wasl tried to find the momentum as coach Leo Ang managed to have his side take the opening quarter 30-25.
UAE Exchange took a slender one-point lead at 39-38 at halftime, but after this UAE Exchange coach Don Robles exploited the absence of a point guard and the injury of BJ De Jesus to take the lead 65-56.
There was no looking back from here on as Lura took control to seal the match 88-74.
Lito Saygo, Gutchie Gutierrez and Edwin Pimental combined for 86 points to lift Roma Parvaz to a 104-102 win over Abu Dhabi-based Lecebisa/Digital Clues/Mediacom.
Jeff Roque scored 34 points to help underdogs Gem Equator advance to the semifinal trouncing Universal Promotion 96-85.
In the inter-hotel competition, Ibis Novotel rode on Raymond Resquites's 32 points to outplay Fairmont Hotel 99-89, while Hyatt Dubai went down fighting 63-66 against JW Marriott.
Friday's fixtures: (9 am) PBA Youth (Gr. A) v PBA Youth (Gr. B); (10.50 am) Al Hedaya v Gem/Equator; (12.40 pm) Ibis Novotel v JW Marriott (Game One for third place); (2.30 pm) Al Mona Group v I Remit; (4.40 pm) Crowne Plaza v Jumeirah Hotel (Game One of Championship); (6.30 pm) UAE Exchange v Al Wasl Travel (Game Two Best of Five Championship).