Al Tuwairqi Group (ATG) qualified to meet King Fahad Military Medical Complex (KFMMC) in the best-of-three Commissioners Cup series in the Eastern Province Basketball League, but ATG only made it through after an unsavoury incident in their Inter-Company Bonafide Non Rated division clash against Saudi Paper.

KFMMC accounted for Inter-Company Rated defending champions COSMA 102-82, but in their final qualifier against Saudi Paper, Hubert Mansubre’s deliberate slap on the face of Al Tuwairqi ace guard Rene Vic Jalop,  with 9.2 seconds left on the clock, resulted in disqualification and the game was handed to ATG 69-62 on a technicality. The game was halted as players became involved in heated exchanges.

The EPBL board handed down a stiff sanction and Mansubre's action will prevent him from participating in any EPBL sanctioned tournaments. Commissioner Ricky Piguing said: “I saw Mansubre intentionally slap the face of Jalop and I decided to stop the game immediately to avoid the worst scenario."

'The EPBL board handed down a stiff sanction and Mansubre's action will prevent him from participating in any EPBL sanctioned tournaments'

With their contrasting victories, KFMMC were due to meet the undefeated ARCC-EEI while the Tuwairqi will defend their title against top seeds Panda Aziziyah in the final series of games which are sponsored by Al Misehal Company Limited and Isam Kabbani and Partners Group, supported by Hoshan Office Automation and Phuket Restaurant.

KFMMC’s Joey Villarosa had his finest game in the conference with 29 points, combined with player-coach Isnoor Manabilang’s 28 points to help Yuly Galang team’s victory.The medical specialists built a 53-43 half-time lead. courtesy of sweet-shooting guard Arnold Ravila and ace defender Rodel Regidor who made a massive input in the third period to build a 78-66 cushion. KFMMC led by as much as 16 points late on and went on to extend their margin to102-82 at the final buzzer.

"COSMA are the defending champions and they are tough. Winning against a team like COSMA made this victory even more especial,” said Manabilang. COSMA could not find their rhythm and suffered theit biggest defeat of the season. Prized cager Anthony Cabotaje was held scoreless in the final quarter and finished with 25 points, including four triples, while ace gunner Gerald Mendoza recorded a dismal seven points