Saladmaster team win basketball championship

Muscat: The number one seeded Saladmaster (Barangay Ginebra Oman) Team won the coveted FMB/FILCOSOC Basketball Championship Trophy by defeating the Ghafari/Al Miladi Team to a final score of 87-69 at the Oman Club Basketball Courts in Al Khuwair, closing out the best of three finals by winning two games out of three.
The Saladmaster squad took the first game of the final’s series with a resounding 11-point victory 79-68, Ghafari/Al Miladi struck back in game two by tying the series and eking out a narrow 2-point victory 82-80.
The deciding game three started with Ghafari leading the first quarter with a score of 17-10 through the efforts of their big five of Anton Tan, Jerry Abelgas Froilan Busquit, Romwel Galang and Richard Sunga. Focusing on defence the Saladmaster retaliated by taking the 2nd quarter with a scoring run of 26-20 with tenacious defence and key contributions from their big men, Bjorn Timario (17 points), Marvin Abano (12 points), Karl Lorion (6 points) and Salim Al-Abrawy (4 points).
This solid team effort on both sides of the game continued for the Saladmasters in the 3rd quarter with a scorching 27-13 scoring blast, initiated by prized rookie sensation, Pj Intia, who scored a game-high 18 points earning him the finals most valuable player trophy and award sponsored by London Speaker Bureau which was presented by their representative, Maryam Gonzales.
The run was ably supported by versatile wingman, Austin Parole who scored nine points but grabbed a total of 8 rebounds and by the scoring ace Joshua Alcarde who finished with 11 points. Key contributions were provided by the rest of the Saldmaster Team Members, Oniel Dela Cruz, Gil Gepiga, Sonny Boy Pagaling, Kenneth Katimbang, Jojo Yap, Regie Leano, Ronnie Hernando, Raymund Francisco, Flaviano Abba, Patrick Aganan and Vincent Mondigo.
The 4th and final quarter saw the Saladmaster grab the lead and close out the series with a 24-19 scoring barrage including a 5-0 second chance point advantage.
Team Manager, Hector Napone was pleased with the result giving him his first championship courtesy of the coaching efforts of Anthony Espiritu, Arthur Parole, Don Rabida, Vito Viray and Head Coach, Allan Minoza. Mark Yuri coached the Ghafari/Al Miladi Team assisted by Alvin Zambo and Dodong Mutya.
The tournament was organized by the Filipino Muscat Ballers (FMB) under the supervision of the Filipino Community Social Club (FILCOSOC).