JEDDAH, 14 December — Westin Hotel beat Al Badr hotel 76-72 to claim the back-to-back championship crown of the Inter-Hotel category of the Seiko-JBL basketball tournament was played at Crowne Plaza hotel basketball court. Both teams showed tremendous basketball skills in the whole game.
Al Badr hotel was leading by 6 points with 3 minutes remaining in the final quarter. Westin Hotel with Fuentebella firing a three points shot in the rainbow territory to start a quick 6-0 burst to tie the game.
Al Badr tried to stay in the contention but they started losing their steam and missed the important basket. Westin Hotel showed big heart in the dying minutes to claim championship crown of the second conference Jeddah inter-hotel for the year 2001.
Anthony Fuentebella was top scorer with 22 points for Westin Hotel while Dindo Garces scored 27 points for Al Badr hotel.
In the inter-company category, Fitaihi Jewelers defeated Seiko-Electro Industries 56-52 in their first game of the best-of-three championship series.
Scores kept changing sides in the whole game. Fitaihi Jewelers managed to grab the lead in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter when they applied the pressure defense.
Seiko-Electro Industries commit costly turnovers and missed the important shots in the dying seconds. Aguirre and Guarra scored 16 and 15 points respectably for Fitaihi Jewelers while Gizon top score with 19 points for Seiko-Electro Industries.
In the Inter-Commercial category, Al Arabi Decor advance to their best of three series 61-54 against Samba Speed Cash. Al Arabi Decor with Sudanese giant Al Hajj controlling the boards managed to dictate the tempo of the game up to the third quarter with as much as 15 points margin.
Samba Speed Cash tried hard with an 8-0 blast in the resumption of the fourth quarter but lost their steam in the dying minutes. Lacuata was top scorer with 18 points for Al Arabi Decor supported by Sunga with 14 points while Bondoc scored 22 points for Samba Speed Cash.
Seiko-JBL awarding ceremony will be held on the 18th of December 2001, right after the battle of the champion, Westin Hotel bannered by Jonh Gatchalian and Anthony Fuentebella will be fitted against the champion of inter-commercial category. The game will be played starting 7 p.m.
This tournament was principally sponsored by Seiko Al Hussaini & Company courtesy of Abdulrahman Al Husseini and Muhammad Ali Taleb. Other companies supporting this tournament are Jeddah Crowne Plaza Hotel (Muhammad Al Harthy), Malaysia Airlines (Morad Omar), Alhamrani — Fuchs Petroleum Saudi Arabia (Sulaiman Al Hulayil), Sigma Paints (Danny Quiambao), Giordano Fashions (MAK Jeelani), Samba Speedcash and Al Haddaf Sports Wear.
The Scores: Westin Hotel — 76: Fuentebella 22, Pordan 14, Gatchalian 12, Llanes 11, Villa Luz 6, Daoud 5, Sulit 4, Acosta 2. Al Badr Hotel — 72: Garces 27, Brian 14, Almoite 13, Eria 10, Magnaye 3, Bingo 2, Gabriel 2, Cruz 1.
Fitaihi Jewelers — 56: Aguirre 16, Guarra 15, Preclaro 11, Agustin 8, Mercado 3, Macatulad 2, Mercado 1. Seiko-Electro Industries — 52: Gizon 19, Berlarmino 15, Macalma 4, Abella 4, Ragotero 4, Baldon 3, Oplas 2, Perez 1.
Al Arabi Decor — 61: Lacuata 18, Sunga 14, Aljentera 11, Bucay 6, Al Hajj 6, Junio 4, De Jesus 2. Samba Speed Cash — 54: Bondoc 22, Garcia 12, Bernabe 11, Lumapay 4, david 3, Attiah 2.
