RIYADH: Saudi Rocks Development Company of Rhino Jacinto, Rommel Jacinto and Aref Aldaba brought home the much-deserved trophy after winning the championship crown of the Inter-Company Bonafide B category at the conclusion of the 22nd Annual Riyadh Inter-Hotels and Part 2 of the 15th Season Basketball Fever in Riyadh at the Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers rubberized basketball court, here.
Hardwork paid dividends for table turner Russel Defiesta as he emerged Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Saudi Rocks maintained their composure till the final period and overcame a strong challenge from Saudi British Bank (SABB) team of Dante Ramones, Jun Pacheco and Michael Cahayagan to highlight an 88-85 game 3 final tally. Strong determination guided them to duplicate their game one win 89-78; SABB took game 2 with 90-82 scores.
Both teams played good defense from the initial action of this 13-deadlock ballgame where the first two quarters concluded with 22-21 and 40-35 in favor of SABB made possible by the combo of Necsan Cabadonga, Waleed Dirbass, Lino Fernandez, Rex Eleazar and Jojo Palce. At the 3rd canto commencement, Coach Aldaba could not just watch his team’s defense falling. The two consecutive 3-point shots by Jay dela Cruz duplicated by Russel Defiesta with the same feat in collaboration with Joseph Boco, Jeffrey Dela Pena and Adriano Ortega signaled Saudi Rocks domination and closed the 3rd period with 66-64 to their advantage and from there on executed their best basketball skills to guarantee their title-clinching victory.
Cesar Morales of Saudi Oger, Cesar Tayag of Western Union and Bilal Fawaz of Sheraton Riyadh Hotel presented the trophies and valuable gifts to the winners from sponsors Western Union Money Transfer and Sale Company.
SABB cagers Necsan Cabadonga and Waleed Dirbass took the award for highest in single scorer and highest in block shots & rebounds respectively, Russel Defiesta (Saudi Rocks) for highest in assists, RC Caballero (Haif Company) for highest in steal and Leo Gonzales (SMS/Telco) for highest in 3 points. The mythical five were Joseph Boco (Saudi Rocks) & Necsan Cabadonga (SABB) Best Guards, Jay Dela Cruz (Saudi Rocks) & Russel Defiesta (Saudi Rocks) Best Forwards and Waleed Dirbass (SABB) Best Center. Best coach and best team manager awards went to Aref Aldaba and Rommel Jacinto respectively, both from the champion team. The Best Team in Uniform Award went to Abana Company, the Most Disciplined Team award went to Home Centre while Jojo Palce of SABB took the award for the Most Disciplined Player. Adriano Ortega and Russel Defiesta both from Saudi Rocks were adjudged Rookie of the League and the MVP of the League in that order based on the statistical records from the start of elimination until the final rounds. Haif Company clinched the 3rd runner-up trophy while BMTC and SABB teams placed 2nd and 1st runners-up as the Saudi Rocks Development Company team emerged this season’s champions.
The tournament, which was for the benefit of the children of UNICEF, enjoyed the generous support of Stuart G. Birkwood, General Manager of Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers. Western Union Money Transfer through Rodelon Del Mundo, Diaspora Manager – KSA to the Philippines & Indochina and Lowell F. Plameras, The Media Brokers was the sponsor of this tournament. Nick Di Marzo of Sale for Distribution & Communication Company, Faisal F. Radwan of Banque Saudi Fransi, Sizzler House through Randy Asistin, Roland Blanco of the Filipino Channel (TFC), Cesar Morales of Saudi Oger, Ltd. and Arab News supported this tournament.
Carlos D. Ollero chaired the Riyadh Inter-Hotels Sports Committee. Ollero was supported by Joy Maglapit, Jess Lumanog, Rene Delos Reyes, Jezreel Tabisora, Lito Unidad, Chris Tan, Anthony Concepcion, Fernan Evangelista, Melchor Costales and Sonny Castaneda while FCBR (Filipino Confederation of Basketball Referees) officiated the entire tournament games.
The Scores:
Game 3
Saudi Rocks 88: R. Defiesta 31, J. Boco 18, D. dela Cruz 14, J. Dela Pena 11, A. Ortega 10, J. Rodelas 2 & J. Garcia 2. SABB 85: N. Cabadonga 32, W. Dirbass19, R. Eleazar 15, J. Palce 12 & J. Composagrado 7. Refs: Boyet Liboon, Jojo Novero and Joel Villania
Game 2:
SABB 90: N. Cabadonga 33, W. Dirbass 20, L. Fernandez 19, R. Eleazar 10 & J. Palce 8. Saudi Rocks 82: R. Defiesta 28, J. Boco 24, D. Dela Cruz 12, J. Dela Pena 8, A. Ortega 4, J. Garcia 4 & J. Sison 2. Refs: Robert Pineda, Jojo Novero and Joel Villania
