RIYADH, 19 September 2003 — The Pizza Hut cagers put the Kudu squad out of action during a do-or-die championship battle attended by a big crowd of basketball aficionados in the best-of-three series of the Jeraisy Group of Companies Inter-Company (Bonafide) Basketball Tournament at the Jeraisy Staff Compound Basketball Court, Exit 7 Riyadh.
Joseph Abasolo got a split ice breaker shot off a foul by Noel Sabordo. Pizza Hut’s conventional defense awarded Abasolo’s hot hands another triple and gave the Pizzamakers a 33-27 advantage but Aries Sarmiento did his homework well and cut the lead to 37-35 at the end of the second canto.
A fall out shot by Sabordo equalized the ballgame at 37 at the opening of the 3rd quarter. Best Center awardee Aries Sarmiento then pushed his team and scoring from a foul but the Pizza cagers got another triple hit from Abasolo and Dave Mallari as they forged ahead.
Game Two hero Nante Garcia with his offensive rebound and follow up shots gave his team a 71-60 lead during the middle of the final canto and with Pizza Hut team coach Jojo Ben’s effective game plan sealed the championship match at 81-71.
Top scorers for the champion team were Joseph Abasolo with 33 points, Ruel Tugade 13 and Dave Mallari 9 while Aries Sarmiento, Noel Sabordo, Ador Aguinaldo and Allain Catalan topscored for the Kudu team with 20, 17, and 9 points apiece respectively. The awarding ceremony followed immediately and the individual awardees were:
Rodel Realica (Jarir) highest in 3-point scoring, Owen Del Rosario (Jarir) best in rebound, Rino Tolentino (Jeraisy) highest in block shots, Arnel Ardamoy (Zahran) best in assists, Dick Policarpio (Dunkin Donuts) highest in steals, Michael “Flying MT” Tamayo (Jeraisy) Sixth Man of the Tournament, Noel Sabordo (Kudu) Best Sportsmanship Player, Saud Ali Al-Segeih (Mazhar) Best Supportive Team Manager, Jojo Ben (Pizza Hut) Best Team Coach, and Benjie Enriquez (Zahran) Rookie of the Tournament.
Team awardees:
Mazhar: Best Sportsmanship Team, Kudu, Jarir and Jomaih got the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards for best in uniform. Members of the elite mythical five were:
Joseph Abasolo (Pizza Hut) and Dick Policarpio (Dunkin Donuts) — Best Guards, Allain Catalan (Kudu) and Benjie Enriquez (Zahran) — Best Forwards and Aries Sarmiento (Kudu) — Best Center. Joseph Abasolo (Pizza Hut) and Allain Catalan (Kudu) were adjudged the Most Valuable Players (MVP) of the Tournament and Finals correspondingly. Third runner-up position went to Dunkin Donuts team, Zahran took the 2nd runner-up trophy, while Kudu brought home the 1st runner-up title and Pizza Hut was declared the champion team.
This league was closely coordinated by Riad Siblini, Ed Tamayo, Larry Gabuni, Ernie Dela Cruz, and officiated by the FCBR referees. Chito Solis served as the anchorman.
