Almarai tops Enjaz; Sheraton, Allianz SF in big wins

RIYADH: Almarai of Mike Alarcon and coached by Luis Abundo survived a strong challenge from Western Union Enjaz to score a 78-76 victory in the Inter-Company Non-Rated Division of the 20th Season Basketball Fever in Riyadh at the Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers Staff basketball court here.
WE Enjaz took control in the second and third quarters but at the start of the last quarter, Almarai coach Luis Abundo reshuffled his boys fielding his second liners
to rest the trio of Peter Domingo, Nomer Dolindo and Erick de Leon.
Jerome Jaquiaca and Frederick Oliveros turned the game around for Almarai with 7 seconds left to play with the score at 76-all.
Oliveros fished a foul that sent him to the free-throw line and converted both freebies to preserve Almarai’s win.
The Barkadahan Disers coached by Lito Villanueva took an easy 90-66 win against Arnel Ardamoy of Zahran Group.
In the Inter-hotels division saw veteran InterContinental Riyadh boys coached by Dondon Mengote escaped defeat by new entrant Courtyard Marriott 78-77 in a wild encounter that went into overtime.
InterCon was well in control of the game only for Courtyard to get back into the game in the fourth aquarter. With the score at 65-63 to InterCon Oliver Reyes of Courtyard fired a buzzer-beater with 0.10 seconds left to force overtime.
At the resumption, the game was back and forth.
With the game clock at 0.24 seconds and the score 77-76 to Courtyard Jaylord Apas was fouled and he split his charities giving InterCon its third straight victory.
In an anticipated match Saturday between rivals Al Faisaliah Hotel, the 8-time champion, and Sheraton Riyadh Hotel and Towers, the host team scored an 84-79 victory.
Inspired by the presence of GM GM Paul C. Dunphy with HR Wael Islambouli and some of the management team Sheraton played smart basketball all game long to outplay Faisaliah, taking leads of 42-33 and 62-53 en route to victory.
Also Saturday, Ritz Carlton embarrassed a Four Points team without main man Alvin Aquino 91-31 while Barkadahan Disers brought down defending Inter-Company Non-Rated champion Kudu 71-69 and Western Union Enjaz crushed Allianz SF Blue Eagles 90-74.
Monday, Sheraton Riyadh returned to court and took down Four Seasons Hotel 70-60 for its third win, while in an unexpected result defending champion Ritz Carlton felt the absence of its key man Chowking Yee in a heavy 74-54 defeat at the hands of InterContinental that was led by Kloyd Romera with his game-high 34 points.
In a week of upsets Kudu suffered its second defeat in three days this time at the hand of new entrant Allianz SF Blue Eagles 109-101. It was the first win in four games for Blue Eagles who got a big lift from Lebanese player Pierre Njeim who led all scorers with 41 points.