Al Fahim Group (EMC) beat Emirates CMS Power Co 83-82 in overtime in a very exciting match in the second week of the Philippine National School (PNS)/Pinoy Ekspat Inter-faith Basketball League (PEIBL) All Filipino Class B basketball tournament at the new Al Jazira Sports and Cultural Club, Abu Dhabi.
Bong Pimentel scored 22 big points (including a buzzer beater three-pointer at the end of the third period), pulled down 16 rebounds, issued four assists and had three steals, Arjay Ronsario made 13 points, four rebounds and four assists, Everjesto Redulla had 12 points, nine boards and two assists but it was the combination of Allan Pablo, Erickson Bantugan and Atong Ramones who save the game for Al Fahim Group.
Pablo, who scored 16 points and had eight boards before fouling out in the last two minutes of the extra period, was replace by Ramones who made the last two crucial free throws that gave Al Fahim Group their second win in as many game.
Crucial points
The bull-like Bantugan also made second crucial points to grab the lead for his team with 20 seconds in overtime. Emirates CMS Power Co. had the chance to send the game to second overtime, but Boyet Galvan who had a fine game in regular period was put under pressure and missed two important free throws in the dying seconds of the game.
It was a sorry loss for CMS who got 24 points, with 12 rebounds and four assists from Melvin Mercado. Bong Cortez scored 21 points, 12 rebounds and three assists, Randy Sumang made 17 points, while Romy Ayuyao contributed 14 points.
In other games, Barangay Archirodon beat Edmark/Mediacom 59-53, Technip Abu Dhabi subdued Filipino Christian Church (FCC) 78-54 and Scotch Man thumped Gamco 86-64. The tournament is sponsored by Philippine National School (PNS), Bisaya organisation, Land Bank of the Philippines, Panoly Town and Beach Club Boracay, Capital Sports Wear and Camella Homes Crown Asia Int'l.
