RIYADH: The outcome could have gone either way in a match pitting the best two teams of the tournament but host InterContinental Hotel Riyadh found a way to win against defending champion Al Faisaliah Hotel to become the champion in the th Annual Riyadh Inter-Hotels Basketball Tournament 2015.

Before a jampacked crowd on Saturday InterCon, coached by Renato Mendoza, edged out Faisaliah Hotel 69-68 in a Game 3 thriller of their best-of-three series for the championship.

Patrick Mendoza was in the right place at the right time, hitting the winning basket when he rebounded the ball and made the shot underneath with 2 ticks left sending InterCon supporters into a frenzied victory celebration.

Unbeaten in the eliminations, InterCon lost the first game 66-64 and won the second game in the series that went double overtime 97-97 to force a rubber match.

Ritz Carlton Riyadh won a knockout game for the third and fourth place against Kempinski 66-65.

The awards ceremony took place after the game with Mohammed Alleemuddin, area director of Organization & Development and Ali Shamrani, assistant HR manager, on hand to present the plaques, trophies and valuable gift items to the winners.

Named to the mythical five selection were Best Guards James Corpuz (Riyadh Intercontinental) and Archie Zabala (Al Faisaliah), Best Forwards Jaylord Apas (InterContinental) and Erano Campo Jr. (Al Faisaliah) and Best Center Darius Cac (InterContinental). The individual awardees are: Apas, Highest Single Scorer; Erano “Jhuk” Campo Jr. (Al Faislaiah), Highest in Steal and Rebound; Damian Ramirez (Kempinski), Highest in in Assist; Dexter Marjes (Kempinski), Highest in Block Shots; Ryan Mark Legaspi (Al Faisaliah), Highest in Three Points; Edmond Mendoza (Ritz Carlton), Most Disciplined Player; Four Seasons, Most Disciplined Team; Domingo Tambio (Novotel), Most Improved Player, Renato Mendoza (InterContinental), Best Coach; and Mohammed Allemuddin (InterContinental), Best Team Manager.

Charles Valenzuela (Ritz Carlton) was named Rookie of the Year, Zabala finals Most Valuable Player and Apas league 2015 Most Valuable Player. The special award for Most Veteran Player of 2015 went to Rey Banting of Riyadh Marriott Hotel.

The tournament was sponsored by Riyadh Inter-Hotels Sports Committee and enjoyed the generous support of all general managers of participating teams in particular Sheraton GM Gerald Chevasson, who sponsored the trophies, Al Faisaliah and Ritz Carlton, which provided special gift items for the rookie of the league and two MVPs.

With chairman Carlos “Tita Caloy” Ollero in the organizing committee are Jess Lumanog, chairman of the Technical Committee, TC member Alvin Buot, James Corpuz, table officials Allan delos Reyes, the play-by play announcer, Kris Paulo (electronic scoreboard operator) Ton Ton Salvador and Virgilio Tallada Jr. (scorer.) Also, Ollero was supported by the official officiating arm of the league for the last 28 years, FCBR referees led by Ernie dela Cruz, Mohd . Villamena and Jason Thomas.

Scores:

NTERCONTINENTAL (69) J. Corpuz 17, D. Cac 17, J. Apas 9, C. Ocienes 9, E. Labang 6, P. Mendoza 5, R. Nunez 2, K. Romera 2 L. Dela Rama 2

AL FAISALIAH (68) RM Legaspi 17, E. Campo 15, N. Lauriaga 13, A. Zabala 9, C. Hall 8, R. Inigo 4, J. Lopera 2 Refs.: Ernie dela Cruz, Jason Thomas and Christopher Tapia