RIYADH: Veteran James Smith blew up 39 points to lead Sale Company team to fine victory over IKEA team 113-91 while Jericho dela Cruz maneuvered Riyadh Marriott Hotel team to an 86-80 win over Radisson Blu during the second week of the semifinal rounds 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.
With these wins, Sale Company of Andre Soriano & Sinawe Cali Mamao coached by Noel David & Renato Galeno and Riyadh Marriott Hotel of Felias Batica & Loth Lomibao continued to enjoy their no-loss record from the early stage of the league.
IKEA squad of Tony Santos and Dodong Flores went down the fray with only five cagers paving the way for Sale Company to dominate the entire match with 56-45 first half scores. Inspite of being undermanned, Marlon Pining, Joven Delfin, Chris Asis, Big Boy Dela Cuesta and Noel Brusola fought gallantly to the defense of their team over fully equipped Sale cagers anchored by Smith, Sherwin Garcia, Paolo Malonzo, Jaime Hernandez, and Jay Madrid in collaboration with Nards Buleg, Ador Aguinaldo and Victor Quintal to highlight a 22-point margin victory.
Marriott proved their supremacy over Radisson Blu team of Ali Al-Qarni, Carlos Carreon and Roman Paparo in a 3-deadlock game win 86-80. The winning team led by Dela Cruz, Choi Salman, Bryan Lising, Ed Manansala and Randy Pineda maintained their position in the driver’s seat throughout the ballgame where the first three quarter scores concluded with 22-12, 45-39 and 65-56. George Lugue, Terence Racosas, Mark Ilusorio, Jafar Laguindab, John Peter Mamaril and defense cager Glen Cato played in high spirits for Radisson Blu but could only trim down their opponent’s margin at the end.
Powerhouse Al Faisaliah Giants of Rey Hagoriles and Gerry Donato overcame the strong challenge of Sheraton Hotel team of Bilal Fawaz, Jess Lumanog & Rene Delos Reyes. Ace cager Jojo Quizon in a team effort with Memel Biteng, Jepoy Rodriguez, Johnny Buan and Chris Tan alternately supported by Joel Conel and Tiny Tony Concepcion carried the load to fill-in the vacuum left by cagers who went on vacation. The staying power of the Giants anchored by Mitchel Compomanes, Nino Lauriaga, Jason Lopera, Archie Zabala and Gerson Lumantas in collaboration with Maynard Azurin, Mark Sanchez, Abel Coral and towering Abdul Fattah continued and without mercy dominated the board with 22-16, 40-25 and 63-35 quarter end scores on the way to an 83-60 final tally match for their second straight wins.
Saudi Rocks who played without coach Aref Aldaba met one of the toughest team BMTC in a down to the wire encounter. The latter took the initial period scores in their favor 24-13 while Saudi Rocks got hold of the second quarter 36-34 with the third period in a 48-48 all situations. During the last 2 minutes of the ballgame, the combo of Dalmacio dela Cruz, Adriano Ortega, Russel de Fiesta, Jeffrey dela Pena and Joseph Boco handled the ball well by putting their best efforts to contain BMTC in a 72-68 final scores win. Later in the week, BMTC starring Jaime Hernandez, Alvin Galang, Ronnie Ferrer, Jayson David and Edmer Serna returned to the center court and prevailed over Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF) in a low scoring 6-deadlock game 58-52.
Other games of the week featured SABB of Dante Ramones and Jun Pacheco who recorded their 3rd straight win denying Haif Company cagers’ hope for a top slot in the championship rounds. Cesar Vales’ Haif team led by RC Caballero, Opet Macalaba, Diego Manalaysay, Marvin Vales and Faith Nieva regained their momentum and closed the second and third period with 44-34 and 61-55 but that was the least they could do as determined SABB players spearheaded by towering Waleed Dirbass controlled the board and with Rommel Abarca, Jojo Palce, Lino Fernandez, Necsan Cabadonga and Rex Eleazar’s effective teamwork opened the door to 79-73 winning battle.
Earlier, SABB stopped elimination round no- loss record SMS/Telco team from winning in a 13 deadlock game. The deciding period was during the dying seconds where the scores stood to 83-82 in favor of SMS/Telco, but Lino Fernandez of SABB converted a 2-point desperate shot to close the curtain with 84-83 final tally in their favor.
Team standings (Semis week 2): Inter-Hotel – Faisaliah Giants 2-0, Marriott 2-0, Sheraton 0-2 and Radisson Blu 0-2. Inter-Company Bonafide B – Saudi British Bank 3-0, Haif Company 3-2, Saudi Rocks 2-0, BMTC 2-2, Banque Saudi Fransi 0-3 and SMS/Telco 0-3. 6 Feet & Below – Cotabato 1-0, Sale Company 1-0, Kudu 0-0 and Ikea 2-0.
