Ritz Carlton, Kudu beat rivals to open defense of titles

Defending champion Ritz Carlton Hotel of Amr Gado opened defense of its title with a 53-49 victory over newcomer Courtyard Marriott in a low scoring game at the start of 26th Annual Riyadh Inter-Hotels basketball tournament 2013.
Past champion Al Faisaliah blew away Four Points By Sheraton 66-14 in the other Inter-Hotels match, while the Kudu team of Mostafa Hamadeh coached by Orly Casimero also began the defense of its title by beating newcomer Almarai of Miguel Alarcon 79-74 in the Non-Rated Inter-Company 3rd Kudu Challenge Cup.
General Manager Paul C. Dunphy of host Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers was the chief guest during the opening ceremony expressing his full support for the sports activities of the hotel employees. Ernie F. Santos, senior guest relations officer of the hotel, emceed the event.
Present at the opening of the two-category 20th Season Basketball Fever were VIP guests from participating hotels namely Al Faisaliah, Ritz Carlton, InterContinental, Four Seasons, Courtyard Marriott, Four Points By Sheraton, and from the Inter-Company teams in Almarai, Kudu, Nesma, Allianz, Saudi Fransi and others.

Al Faisaliah’s Nino Lauriaga, last year’s MVP, led the oath of sportsmanship after which league chairman Tita Caloy Ollero declared both tournaments open.
Al Faisaliah and Sheraton both won the Best in Uniform trophy for the Inter-Hotels and Almarai for Inter-company Non-Rated.
Ritz Carlton, coached by Rolly Mendoza, had only two players in double figures, led by Chowking Yee with 15 points. Clarkton Browly contributed 13 points.
Courtyard Marriott, coached by Oliver Reyes, had Jay-Ar Gallardo anchoring the team with 16 points and he was the one responsible for giving Ritz Carlton fits in the tight game between a veteran team and a newcomer.

Last year’s MVP Fernando Pasig led Kudu with 22 points. Darius Cac added 20 points while Brian Coronado tossed in 11 points while Almarai team of Mike Alarcon coached by Luis Abundo had 3 players in double digits with Peter Pol Domingo on 18 points, Eric Jem De Leon 17 and Nomer Dolindo 16 points.
In an exciting game Kudu and Almarai fought through nine deadlocks.

During second day of Inter-Hotels action Monday Sheraton Riyadh easily beat Marriott 70-57.
In the Non-Rated category, Barkadahan Disers of playing coach Lito Villanueva stopped Nesma of Dino Amiel Balaga 89-82 nad Western Union of Peter Oloroso crushed Zahran Group of playing coach Arnel Ardamoy 94-69.

The tournament for the benefit of the children of UNICEF enjoys the generous support of general managers of participating hotels and companies particularly the following sponsors who pledged support: Wael Maatouk of Ritz Carlton Hotel, Mostafa Hamadeh of Kudu, Andy F. Santos and Roland Cinco of China Banking-M. LHuillier, and Randy Asistin of Sizzler House.