Malco team of Nasser and Noura Ponponan won the championship trophy and Ramil Ignacio of the champion team emerged Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the 4th Salesman-Merchandiser Basketball League at the Zahid Tractor court in Nasseem on the outskirts of Riyadh.
Malco and Angels shot pretty well and it was a see-saw battle between the sides from start to finish. Malco eventually won by 106-94 in the decider of the best-of-three championship series.
Angels won the opener 92-86 before Malco triumphed in the second game 102-95.
The trio of Ignacio, Leo Antonino and Hutch Valesa led Malco in the decisive third game with support from Ronie Ferrer, Joel Tarin, Mar Campiao, Mohamad Cusain and Eldo Pabelico.
Resty Montemayor and Ruel Carpio scored 21 and 19 points at the helm of Angels.
The league started with eight teams namely Malco, LNV All Stars, Angels, Al-Safi, Pepsi, Uniliver, Arzaq Supermarket and Zahid Tractor.
Individual and team awards were handed over to the winners immediately after the ballgame.
The awardees were: Jimmy Caca (Al-Safi) highest in score; Resty Montemayor (Angels) best in assists; Mohamad Abusama (Angels) best in steals; Ronie Ferrer (Malco) best in blocked shots; Rod Paraiso (Angels) best in rebounds; Abdulrahman Demour (Zahid Tractor) most improved player; Abel Dayrit (Zahid Tractor) best in 3-point shots; Pepsi team – most disciplined team; Nasser Ponponan (Malco) best team coach and Noura Ponponan (Malco) best team manager. With MVP and guard Ignacio in the mythical five selection were Hutch Valesa (Best Guard), Ruel Carpio and Jerome Emping (Best Forwards) and Jomel Palejo (Best Center).
LNV All Stars took third place and Al-Safi fourth place.
The league enjoyed the support of SMDC — The Good Guys and The Filipino Confederation of Basketball Referees (FCBR), which handled the tournament officiating.
Lito Villanueva organized and anchored this league the past 4 years. This year’s committee officials were Rolly Caisip, Mark Efraim Jatico and Raul Gregania.
The scores:
Game 3
Malco (106) R. Ignacio 23, H. Valesa 19, R. Ferrer 15, J. Tarin 12, M. Cusain 12, M. Campiao 12, L. Antonino 10, E. Pabelico 3
Angels (94) R. Montemayor 21, R. Carpio 19, C. Navarro 18, B. Bautista 17, D. Payang 10, R. Paraiso 9.
