“League sponsor Travelex Worldwide Money through Business Development Manager, Mr. Shan Kamarudheen presented the champion crown to Team LBC of the PIBAQ 14th Season Travelex Cup 2013 at the Al Gharafa Training Gym”.

By Chris Panganiban
Pics by Ronnie Castro

 

DOHA:Team LBC captured the much coveted championship crown of Travelex Cup 2013 of Pinoy Basketball of Qatar (PIBAQ) after trouncing PCSI Specialties-Dukhan Ballers, 75-65, in their best-of-three series in the jampacked crowd last Friday at Al Gharafa Training Gym.

It was the sweetest victory for Team LBC, formerly Qatar Kentz, since it is the first time they took the championship after three years stint with PIBAQ, Qatar’s premiere Filipino basketball league.

“It is indeed a great feeling to taste the sweetest victory we had in many years that finally we had the crown,” Calledo said to the wild cheers of the fans.

The heroic all-around play of Finals MVP and rookie Kim Calo made all the difference why Dukhan Ballers can’t stand in a way all throughout the game to make a comeback. He did not only wowed his fans with his showtime brand of play but his leadership as well that was the turning point of their big win against an equally tough and hungry for the crown team.

The game plan of Calledo to maintain the double digit edge all throughout the game, at one time reached to 17 points margin. The champions maintained the lead to 28:50 minutes as against the scoring run of Dukhan Ballers at only 10:29 minutes.

Team LBC was able to dominate the 14 points second chance baskets and 16 points fastbreak baskets compared to four point second chance, six points fastbreaks along with 19 points turn overs by the Dukhan Ballers squad.

Dukhan Ballers could not even inch closer in the game as Team LBC was leading 22-15 in the first quarter, 38-30 at the half and 57-45 in the third quarter.

Team LBC head coach Rey Eusebio was all praises to his men for offering the company the crown in their participation with PIBAQ, which is just as sweet for them since this will boost their presence as Filipino cargo forwarding company for the first time in Qatar in many years.

Shan Kamarudheen, Business Development Manager of Travelex Worldwide Money and PIBAQ president Pat Carido presented the championship crown to Team LBC at the awarding ceremony. The seven-kilo crown named Carido Cup was uniquely designed formed like a big ball which PIBAQ started awarding since the 13^th season to encourage participating teams to come out with top quality brand of games.

At the Division-C Category, Pampanga team won over MCM, 64-58, in their own best-of-three finals capped with the awarding of Santiago Macalino as MVP and mythical five awardee Dennis Magtanong.

TFCMI captured the third place against Arab Engineering Bureau, 68-62.

Game No: 29 (Game 2, Best of 3 Championship Series)

LBC Kentzscore (75): Kim Calo-14, Jhun Bolo-13, Charlie Herradura-12, Arnold Calo-11, Raphael Vallado-9, Sandie Limin-8, Christian Candidio-6, Rizalito Fernando-2, Frederick Acosta-0, Zach Nurashi,-0 and Charlie Bongabong-0    

PCSI - Dukhan Ballers score (65): Rodel Mallari-21, Richard Raagas-16, Bhong Caballero-9, Boghs Laher-6, Anthony Isip-4, Jefrey Roman-4 and Erminio Bigkas-3