RIYADH: Faisaliah Giants beat Sheraton 86-84 to boost their record to 5-1, while InterCon Hotel finally tasted victory over Al Hokair 83-81 in the 7th week of action in 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.
The trio of Mitchel Campomanes, Nino Lauriaga and Archie Zabala led the charge by Faisaliah Giants of Rey Hagoriles as they asserted their supremacy over the Sheraton squad of Bilal Fawaz and coaches Jess Lumanog and Rene Delos Reyes.
For Sheraton ace cager Jojo Quizon finished with 40 big points. Ruel Paule, Anthony Concepcion, Jayson Manaloto and Jeff Rodriguez helped Quizon get Sheraton in the thick of the battle though the Giants led in each of the three quarters at 19-15, 41-37, and 61-54.
Quizon missed the chance at either victory or overtime period for Sheraton when his desperation shot with 2.10 seconds grazed the rim.
Sheraton returned to the court to beat strong Radisson Blu of Ali Al-Qarni, Carlos Carreon and Roman Paparo 91-84 in a game marked by 11 deadlocks.
Radisson Blu took the upper hand in the initial period at 26-22 but Paule, Quizon and Tiny Tony blended well with Jeff Rodriguez and Nani Evangelista to grab a 43-42 lead at the end of the second period. Both teams applied good defense and offense during the final period in which every shot didn’t go unanswered.
John Peter Mamaril fouled out with still 1.52 minutes left and teammates Mark Illusorio, George Lugue, Jafar Laguindab and Terrence Racosas with Glen Cato & Rey Manigbas in the defense department could only narrow Sheraton’s margin at the final buzzer.
Christian Montemayor, Lorenz Acharon, Reybert Navarro, Noel Adona and Gilbert Muege gave Hokair a strong start for a 19-15 first quarter lead.
Intercon Hotel of Playing Coach Neo Egamino successfully wrested the momentum to lead by four points 39-35 and in a display of tight defense concluded the third quarter ahead by 59-49.
Andrew Vallejo, Jaylord Apas and James Paul Corpuz led InterCon with 25, 20 and 12 points in that order.
Western Union Money Transfer through Rodelon Del Mundo, Diaspora Manager — KSA to the Philippines & Indochina and Lowell F. Plameras, The Media Brokers is 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 support the tournament.
Team standings: Inter-Hotel Faisaliah Giants 5-1 Sheraton 4-2 Marriott 3-0 Radisson Blu 3-2 InterCon 1-3, Four Seasons 0-3, Al Hokair 0-5
Inter-Company Bonafide B — (Group A) Saudi Rocks 3-1 Abana 2-2 SABB 2-2, IPA-ELC 1-2, Haif Company 1-2
(Group B) SMS-Telco 4-0 BMTC 3-1 Banque Saudi Fransi 2-2 Home Centre 1-3, Nas Aviation 0-4
6 Feet & Below — Cotabato 3-0 Sale Company 2-0 Kudu 1-2 Ikea 1-2, CCMCL 0-3
