RIYADH, Sept. 19, 2000 – Saudi Media Systems (SMS) recorded a surprising win over the TFC (ABS-CBN) in the Inter Company Division opening encounter while host Sheraton Tower in the ongoing Inter hotels division escaped with a narrow victory over the Intercontinental at the ongoing 3 in 1 Fila Millennium Basketball Challenge festival 2000, being hosted by Sheraton Riyadh hotel and towers.
The lucky victors paraded a souped up line up featuring the towering trio of Eden, Bermejo, Bunag and captain Joemar Talaban in the opening clash against powerful TFC of Joel Magpantay. The former dominated the play in the first half to take a big 55-30 lead at the end of the period. Inspite the rally made by Magpantay with his 27-points, the powerful rebound made by Pasumbal brothers with high leaping Masangkay and Jovero of TFC, these efforts were not enough to contain the winners, anchored by the diminutive Campo who contributed 20-points with Rico Petil for the rebound for the final score of 100-69.
Four matches were decided for the battle for supremacy in the 13^th Inter hotels division. Riyadh Palace beat Al Faisaliah 62-50. As the action began, the latter deliberately played slow against their stronger rivals. Their tall man Morris Tiedemann, who did the most rebounds (13) of the match, checked out Riyadh Palace with unthinkable tactics and the best they can do was to equalize the score in the first half standing at 23-all.
At the resumption of the buzzer, playing coach Mario Hidalgo tried his strategy by fielding rookie Rodel Supan with Donnel Samaniego, Willy Manahan and mainstay powerful rebounder Rex Testado, Teddy Natividad and playmaker Desnie Reyes. Supan three points basket signaled the start of the tense offense and defense by both the teams where every shots was calculated to score the points that were badly needed. In the absence of experience on the side of losers, the winners made an inroad to victory easily.
In another blistering showdown, Marriott of Fawaz Al Beshir threw in full weight of its vaunted offense in the final half to hack out a 103-95 win over stubborn newcomer Olaya Place of M. A. Ateeq. As in the previous games, Tres Mondala of the winning team did most of the damage. He combined finesse with brute power to steer his side to another thrilling triumph in the elimination round.
From a shaky 50-47 half time edge, Marriott roughly pulled away from their opponents on ding-dong scores as Cris Cielo and Jovit Laygo also came through with big baskets. Unperturbed, the losers, starring Edwin Dela Cruz, Juanito Payumo, Arthur Fernandez, Bodjec Dimaapi and high leaping Kram retaliated with their own torrid attack that drew cheers from the crowd. However, in form Mondala clustered two straight baskets that settled the outcome.
Khozama also had to work hard against Minhal Holiday Inn, winning in the end by 78-74 margin in another encounter. Veteran Jojo Bulan three consecutive shots along with three points by Francis Aquino started of this thrilling clash. It took losers 1.5 minutes before Willy Dula fired the first basket. This gave confidence to his teammates Joseph Dela Pena, Michael Sta Maria and Dennis Almario to retaliate, closing the first half on 37-35 in favor of Khozama.
In the second half, Almario and Art Lagman gave Minhal the lead by controlling the board. Here Almario posted high game score of 28 but the strong defense of the triumvirate of Aquino, Bulan and Astrologo for Khozama was so strong that they took upper hand during the last one-minute and ending victoriously.
In the last showdown of the night, Sheraton Towers posted a dramatic win over the Intercontinental by a hairline margin of 70-69. It was a cardiac finish game as the winner was not clear till the last seven ticks of the final half. At this stage, Rex Capati was fouled and the score tied at 69-all. He succeeded in his first attempt but missed the second one, resulting into a mad scramble for the spheroid that got out of bound with one tick left. Intercon taking the last desperate shot failed as the time expired.
The diminutive Allan Barcelon did an insurmountable job in finding the right passing of the ball which he mustered in time for the big win. The victors were almost logged out by their opponents. The Neo Egamino’s quintets played a decisive match in a do or die battle. Sheraton was constrained to some extent but the time factor was not in favor for the Intercon boys and they went down fighting in a brave manner.
The 3-in-1 Fila Millennium Basketball Challenge 2000 is being sponsored by Sodas Sports – the sole distributor of Fila sportswear in the Kingdom courtesy of Mumen Al Garawi with support coming from Pepsi Cola, Philippine Airlines and Power Horse Energy Drink. It is organized by Riyadh Inter-hotels Sports Committee.
It is fully backed by Thomas Boesch, executive assistant manager with patronage of Michael Wegner, general manager of the hotel. The management believes that by providing and supporting the staff sports activities, Sheraton also helps and develops awareness of friendship and camaraderie as well as entertainment among the expatriate workers not only in the hotel industry but also to other companies in the surrounding communities.
Also, the Friday Morning Club has been organized for those who are interested to play in the morning hours. For registration, call Carlos D. Ollero or Flor Almoite on 454-3300.

Summarized scores:

Saudi Media Systems (100) – J. Campo 29, G. Eden 19, J. Japson 16, B. Encinas 14, L. Bermejo 12, R. Encinas 10, Pineda 6, R. Petil 2 beat TFC (69) – J. Magpantay 27, G. Pasumbal 14, G. Pasumbal 10, E. Masangkay 8, V. Dela Cruz 7, H. Jovero 3. Referees – Abet Garcia, Lito Vitug.

Riyadh Palace (62) – R. Supan 18, D. Reyes 13, D. Samaniego 11, Abdullah 9, R. Testado 5, T. Natividad 4, J. Revilla 2 beat Al Faisaliah (50) – H. Anical 24, F. Avillo 7, M. Tiedemann 7, A. Fontanilla 5, J. Manicani 4, M. Buenaflor 3. Referees – Ernie Dela Cruz, Muhammed Villamena.

Marriott (103) – Tres Mondala 39, C. Cielo 23, J. Laygo 15, E. Manansala 12, M. Swing 5, R. Macapagal 5, L. Nebres 2, E. Turbanos 2 beat Olaya Palace (95) – E. Dela Cruz 27, A. Fernandez 21, J. Payumo 18, Kram 10, B. Dimaapi 8, R. Navarro 5, J. Sumat 4, G. Enteria 2. Referees – Ernie Dela Cruz, Muhammed Villamena.

Al Khozama (78) – F. Aquino 33, T. Astrologo 17, J. Bulan 14, E. Cuyong 4, A. Valencia 4, L. Bautista 4, G. Donato 2 beat Minhal Holiday Inn (74) – D. Almario 28, A. Lagman 16, M. Sta Maria 13, C. Salvador 6, W. Dula 5, J. Dela Pena 4, B. Bangug 2. Referees – Nestor Carlos, Lito Vitug.