The 27th Annual Riyadh Inter-Hotels Basketball 2014 tournament took off the ground on Friday in a simple but colorful opening ceremony at the newly refurbished InterContinental Riyadh Hotel basketball court.

InterCon Director of Human Resources, Ibrahim Al Malki, was the chief guest and he delivered an inspirational welcome address.

The other VIP guests from the hotel industry were Managing Director Alex Pixel of Al Faisaliah Hotel, Ayman Saber, Mohamed Al Madani, director of Human Resources of Burj Rafal Kempinski Hotel, Leo Valencia of Riyadh Marriott, Marvin Magnaye of Four Points by Sheraton Khaldia Riyadh Hotel, Amr Gado, recreation manager, and Faye Batica of Ritz Carlton Riyadh Hotel.

From the sponsoring hotel Assistant Chief Engineer Ed Bautista came along with Alvin Buot, overall coordinator, and Mario Jose who emceed the event. Al Faisaliah Hotel was adjudged the Best in Uniform.

Long a fixture in the city’s basketball calendar this Inter-Hotels tournament is sponsored by InterContinental Riyadh Hotel and hosted by Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers for the benefit of children of UNICEF.

In the opening game action, defending champion InterContinental Riyadh took some doing before dispatching 2012 champion Ritz Carlton in a low scoring tussle 55-47

Ritz Carlton matched up well with Intercon boys on 17-22 in the first half and 35-all after the third quarter.

At the start of the fourth period the quintet of James Corpuz, Jaylord Apas, Bonie Ramos, Herzon Gonzales, Leomar Dela Rama took control for InterCon with assist from Elo Labang and Laurence Acharon to get the win.

Al Faisaliah was simply too good for last year’s debutant Four Points by Sheraton Khaldia Riyadh Hotel 92-53.

Marvin Casubuan, Archie Zabala, Reynaldo Eusebio, Raymund Iñigo and Abel Coral presided Faisaliah’s onslaught leaving to naught Alvin Callanta’s 23-points performance for Four Points.

Monday games witnessed another one sided game, as Paul Dunphy’s Sheraton Riyadh boys over powered Marriott Riyadh boys 90-64

Ziyao Soro led Sheraton with his game-high 20 points. Mainstay Jhuk Erano, Anthony Concepcion, Mac Mac Tan, Marvin delos Reyes and three rookies namely Naldy Hilario, Virgilio Tallada and Noli Moralit likewise contributed in the win.

In the second game, new entrant Burj Rafal Kempinski Hotel of Mohamed Al Madani created some ripple by blasting Novotel 82-57.

The scores:

INTERCON (55) J. Apas 13, J. Corpuz 13, B. Ramos 11, H. Gonzales 7, L. Dela Rama 4, E. Labang 4, L. Acharon 3

RITZ CARLTON (47) E. Mendoza 17, C. Browly 10, J. Tulao 8, D. De Jesus 3, JC Recamora 2, Al fawas 2, C. Aldrin 2, E. Guarin 2, M. Onofre 1

Refs: Mohd. Villamena, Larry Balon

AL FAISALIAH (92) M. Casubuan 18, A. Zabala 15, R. Eusebio 11, Legaspi 11, R. Inigo 9, O. Coral 7, J. Lopera 6, G. Donato 5, N. Lauriaga 4, H. Ofianga 2, B. Ambrosio 2, J. Ipil 2.

FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON KHALDIA (53) A. Callanta 23, M. Yagong 12, K. Zulueta 6, J. Frivaldo 5, J. Nedroda 3, Magbantay 2, N. Dillena 2

SHERATON RIYADH (90) Z. Soro 20, M. Delos Reyes 18, J. Abad 11, A. Concepcion 10, N. Hilario 8, V. Tallada 8, J. Erano 7, C. Tan 4, J, de Guzman 2, N. Moralit 2

MARRIOTT (64) E. Dalangin 21, R. Baldevia 20, V. Cesicar 6, I. Agapay 4, Jr Gallardo 4, M. Mirato 2, R. Manuza 2, C. Tolengco 2, E. Manansala 2

Refs: Joel Villana , Upang Renosan

KEMPINSKI (82) D. Ramirez 19, R. Yalung 17, M. Opericio 14, P. Macayayong 8, C. Juason 7, D. Marjes 6, A. Gaton 2, R. Kasunkad 2, J. Belnas 2, D. Reyes 2, Al Jalawi 2, L. Silerio 1 NOVOTEL 57; D. De Vera 33, J. Manuel 13, R. Guimary 4, G. Corpuz 3, D. Empo 2, Roel 2