InterCon, Disers clinch title series openers

Host team Sheraton Riyadh suffered back-to-back losses last week including a 79-76 decision it dropped against InterContinental Riyadh in the first game of their title clash, as it faced an uphill climb if it were to win another championship in the 26th Annual Riyadh Inter-Hotels Basketball Tournament 2013 at the Sheraton rubberized court here.
The InterCon defeat followed an 84-83 squeaker against Al Faisaliah that gave Sheraton a 2-1 record at the end of the semifinals with Inter-Con setting up a title showdown with the hosts after beating Ritz Carlton 74-72 in a knockout game of the second finals berth.
The week also featured the Inter-Hotel knockout game for third and fourth won by Ritz Carlton against Faisaliah 77-76.
Last Saturday, Barkadahan Disers of coach Lito Villanueva brought down Kudu 85-78 at the start of the best-of-three championship series in the Kudu Challenge cup for the Inter-Company Non-rated.
Kudu worked itself back into the game from 10 points down in the fourth quarter only to hurt its chances of a comeback victory after rebounder Fundador Aguinaldo fouled out with still five minutes to play, Mark Fabello followed at the three-minute mark and Brian Coronado in foul trouble. This resulted in Disers having all the leeway to control the game.
InterCon had been beaten twice by Sheraton — in the eliminations and semifinal — but with its Game 1 victory could now go all the way to the title thanks to the dynamic teamwork of Jaylord Apas, Kloyd Romera, Mac Castillo, Mike Caliboso and James Corpus.
This 2 in 1 leagues features the 3rd Kudu Challenge Cup for Inter-Company Non-Rated and the 26th Annual Riyadh Inter-Hotels Basketball Tournament 2013. The tournament for the benefit of the children of UNICEF enjoys the generous support GM Paul C. Dunphy with the 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. LHuiller, and Randy Assistin of Sizzler House.
The scores:
Barkadahan Disers (85) J. Tarin 21, A. Cunanan 18, R. Montemayor 11, H. Valesa 9, J. Palejo 8, R. Ignacio 7, Z. Soliano 5, R. Ferrer 2, J. Claveria 2, R. Carpio 2, Kudu (78) M. Fabelo 15, B. Fabila 15, J. Balicao 13, B. Coronado 11, F. Aguinaldo 10, R. Piodos 5, D. Cac 4, J. Casimero 3, J. Villarubia 2
Refs.: Freddie Lacson, Joel Villania, Upang Renosan

Ritz Carlton (77) C. Yee 25, C. Browly 16, E. Mendoza 14, J. Tulao 14, J. Bolena 8
Al Faisaliah (76) A. Zabala 33, M. Casubuan 8, N. Salvador 8, A. Coral 7, J. Lopera 7, B. Ambrosio 5, R. Inigo 4, C. Hall 2, A. Mojado 2

InterCon (79) J. Apas 19, K. Roera 18, M. Castillo 16, M. Caliboso 11, J. Corpus 8, E. Labang 4, L. dela Rama 3
Sheraton Riyadh (76) Z. Soro 27, M. delos Reyes 20, J. de Guzman 18, J. Campo 3, A. Concepcion 3, J. Basa 3, C. Tan 2