Al Faisaliah captures Inter-Hotels crown

Al Faisaliah coached by Francis Balanquit finished off Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towrs by winning Game 3 of the best-of-three championship series 75-72 in a pulsating contest before a packed crowd at the InterContinental Riyadh staff basketball court here.
The finale brought a fitting end to the 27th Annual Riyadh Inter-Hotels Basketball Tournament.
Al Faisaliah lost the series opener 69-68 giving Sheraton Riyadh a perfect 10-0 record (7 eliminations, 2 semis and Game 1).
In Game 2, Faisaliah took the limelight from Sheraton and forced a rubber match with an 86-81 triumph.
In Monday’s decisive game Faisaliah pulled an ace up its sleeve in Ryan Mark Legaspi, and just like that the match turned in favor of Faisaliah.
Legaspi hit flawless 3 points shots in the dying seconds to cap a 24-point performance for the eventual champions.
Sheraton’s management team of General Manager Paul C. Dunphy, Director of Sales Wael Ibrahim Islambouli, Manager Reservation and Room Revenue Abdulrashid Abdulaziz and Sales Specialist Amer Bazarbachi turned out in full force in the finale to support their players.
Sheraton boys, who beat Faisaliah in the eliminations, however, failed to live up to expectations and missed crucial free throws that denied them victory.
VIP guests from sponsor InterCon were Area General Manager Joseph Sorges, Luca De Stefano, IHG Riyadh resident manager; Jai Sudhan, Organizational & Development manager; and Ibrahim Al Malki, Human Resources manager.
Riyadh Marriott won the knockout game for the third and fourth against deposed champion InterCon 76-72.
The awards ceremony took place after the game with Dunphy, Sudhan and Al Malki on hand to present the plaques, trophies and valuable gift items to the winners. Named to the mythical five selection were Best Guards Ziyao S. Soro (Sheraton) and Archie Zabala (Al Faisaliah), Best Forwards Jaylord Apas (InterCon) and Joseph Abad (Sheraton) and Best Center Marvin Casubuan (Al Faisaliah).
The individual awardees: Erano “Jhuk” Campo Jr. Highest in Rebound, Ziyao Soro Highest in Single Scorer, in Assists and in Steal, Joseph Abad, Highest in Block Shots (all from Sheraton), Ryan Mark Legaspi (Al Faisaliah) Highest in Three Points, James Corpus, the Most Disciplined Player (InterCon), the Most Disciplined Team Four Points By Sheraton Riyadh Khaldia, and Carlo Tolengco Most Improved Player (Marriott). Francis Balanquit (Faisaliah) won the award for Best Coach and Ayman Saber (Faisaliah) for Best Team Manager.
Sheraton’s Naldy Hilario and Soro were named Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player respectively.
The tournament for the benefit of children of Unicef was sponsored by Riyadh InterContinental and enjoyed the generous support of all GMs of participating teams in particular Sheraton GM Paul C. Dunphy.
With Chairman Tita Caloy in the organizing committee are Jess Lumanog, chairman of the Technical Committee, TC member Alvin Buot, Rene delos Reyes, table officials Allan delos Reyes and Chito Solis, who was the play-by play announcer, Kris Paulo (electronic scoreboard operator) Eli Fallorin and Richard Go (score keeper) Tonton Salvador and Edgar Simbol (game clock operator) and the official officiating arm of the league for the last 27 years now, FCBR referees, through Mohd. Ed Tamayo and Ernie dela Cruz, Mohd. Villamena and Ping Lacson.
Also, Riyadh Inter-Hotels Sports Committee appreciates the generosity of InterCon for sponsoring the trophies and valuable prizes as well its entire team headed by Alvin Buot and James Corpus.
The scores:
Al Faisaliah (75) RM Legaspi 24, A. Zabala 20, C. Hall 11, M. Casubuan 10, N. Lauriaga 4, R. Eusebio 3, J. Lopera 3
Sheraton Riyadh (72) J. Campo 27, Z. Soro 24, N. Hilario 8, J. Abad 6, M delos Reyes 3, and J. de Guzman 4
Refs: Ernie dela Cruz, Mohd. Villamena, Ping Lacson