RIYADH: The 28th Annual Riyadh Inter-Hotels Basketball 2015 tournament took off the ground on Friday in a simple yet colorful opening ceremony at the InterContinental Riyadh Hotel’s newly re-painted basketball court.

GM’s of the participating 9 leading hotels in Riyadh gathered under a floodlit court as guests of honors. They are: Francesco Pantalone, GM of Al Faisaliah, Jean Francoise, GM of Ritz Carlton, Rolf Lippuner, GM of Four Seasons, Farhan Lone, GM of Courtyard Marriott, the other official that graced the opening were; Mohammed Allemudin – Area Director of Organization & Development, Ali Al Shamrani — Asst. HR Manager, Danny Nalundasan – Guest Relation Manager all from Intercontinental Hotel, Mahamoud Al Dawood, Rooms Division Director of Kempinski, Mohammed Al Madani, HR Director of Riyadh Marriott, Gamal Rodriguez, Ritz Carlton F & B Director with Amr Gado, Mohammed Sabry, Ayman Saber, Regional Butler Trainer of Al Faisaiah.

Guest speaker Francesco Pantalone, GM of Al Faisaliah, delivered an inspirational welcome address. Also in attendance were Mohammed Allemudin, area director Organization & Development InterContinental, Marvin Magnaye of Four Points by Sheraton Khaldia Riyadh Hotel, Faye Batica of Ritz Carlton Riyadh Hotel, and the task force of Intercon headed by Alvin Buot, overall coordinator and toastmaster, with James Corpuz and Renato Mendoza.

Al Faisaliah Hotel was adjudged the Best Team in Uniform.

Defending champion Al Faisaliah opened its title defense with a 65-53 victory over Riyadh Marriott that showed up with the Inter-Hotels ironman, Ed Manansala, the only player to see action in all the 28 editions of the tournament.

The second match pitted InterContinental against Kempinski in a roller coaster match that ended 64-57 to the tournament hosts.

The third quarter ended 43-all. At the start of the 4th quarter, InterCon coach Renato Mendoza fielded the quintet of James Corpuz, Darius Cac, Jaylord Apas, Mark Belderol and Patrick Mendoza to try and control the aggressiveness of Kempinski’s Damian Ramirez, Philip Macayayong, Rizal Casunkad, Vincent Quintos, and Dexter Marjes with Clyd Ducusin.

Ritz Carlton anchored by twin towers of Charles Browley, and Chowking Yee with Jaypee Tulao and Charles Valenzuela handily beat Four Points by Sheraton Riyadh Khaldia 88-57.

Bannered by big men Mubaraqi brothers Ali and Nawaf, Four Seasons brought down Courtyard Marriott with a mighty thud 63-43 despite the latter gaining morale support with the presence of GM Farhan Lone on the team bench.

The scores:

AL FAISALIAH (65) R. Legaspi 17, E. Campo 13, N. Lauriaga 9, A. Zabala 9, J. Lopera 7, D. Ybanes 6, R. Pangan 2, J. Ipil 2.

MARRIOTT (53) JR Gallardo 15, D. Attip 13, B. Quirante 9, E. Dalangin 8, F. Redulfin 4, I Agapay 3, R. Bautista 1

INTERCON (64) J. Corpus 18, D. Cac 15, J. Apas 12, M. Balderol 6, P. Mendoza 4, R. Nunez 3, L. Acharon 2, R. Ociones 2, R. Sabejon 2

KEMPINSKI (57) D. Ramirez 15, P. Macayayong 13, R. Casunkad 8, V. Quintos 4, D. Marjes 4, C. Ducusin 4, Ed Alfonso 4, JP Belnas 3, C. Juson 2

RITZ CARLTON (88) C. Yee 23, J. Tulao 18, C. Valenzuela 12, C. Bradley 10, E. Mendoza 6, R. Jaconob 5, J. Samson 4, J. Guarin 4, M. Onofre 2, M. San Diego 2, Aggarao 2.

FOUR POINTS (57) A. Callanta 24, M. Sunga 14, R. Gustullo 10, K. Zulueta 6, J. Devilla, Quirante 1

FOUR SEASONS (63) P. Marigsa 13, N. Obrar 11, J. Mabutas 10, E. Romano 8, I. Palanca 7, A. Balderol 6, Ali Mubaraqi 3, N. Mubaraqi 2, Mones 2, G. Regala 1

COURTYARD MARRIOTT (46) C. Narsoles 17, DA Villaruel 14, L. Saladen 4, J. Quinto 4, J. Guevarra 3, R. Salem 2, L. De La Cruz 2