RIYADH, Sept. 29, 2000 – Dallah hospital outwitted the strong rival El Seif Engineering line up to record their first victory by 85-71 in the Inter Company Division at the ongoing 3 in 1 Fila Millennium Basketball Challenge festival 2000, being hosted by Sheraton Riyadh hotel and towers.

Coming back to join the bonanza since old Al Khozama days, El Seif, a prominent name here in the game just could not push through the victors line up, captained by Lhito Medes, who played with more balance composure under the guidance of their playing coach Fred Lachica.
The battle was thrilling and even the old names of playing coach Arnold Bodjec Olmedo, Ramon Estrada, Eugenio Vitan, Jun Corporal, Melvin Castillo, Edwin Sales with new faces of Rey Jopista, Rommel Esguerra, Armando Baldoza, Ulysses Tenoso, Jonathan Andrade and Larry Estrada could not delight their fans.

It was a sweet triumph for the Dallah boys as a day earlier they were beaten by the Saudi Media System (SMS) with 95-75 score. Here, Ahmed Jafaari of the winning side played the role of a spoiler and frustrated the opponents in this match devoid of excitement. SMS had a commanding 47-28 half time lead and did relax a bit to allow Dallah to close in the gap to some extent but the first half deficit was too much for them.

A total of eight matches, three in the Inter hotels and five in the Inter Company divisions were completed over the weekend in an action packed drama.

Of the other Inter Company encounter, LM Ericsson parading an array of young players in Peter Gonzales, Gracito Lata, Alfred Alejano, Joe Nieto, Arnel Dela Cruz, Quiel Crescini, Benedicto Donor, Abel Lopez, Rhoneil Concepcion, Ariel Bawar, Russell Lo and Anthony Tapayan snatched a heart stopping 87-73 win over TFC (ABS-CBN). TFC entered the center court for the second time with only six players in the first half and without their playing team manager Joel Magpantay. He did join in the second half along with Erwil Magsankay to back up TFC as they worked behind its swift running game but failed to contain the Ericsson.

In the other Inter Hotels Division matches, Olaya Palace weathered off the spirited challenge of Riyadh Palace in the homestretch to win by 87-76 score. The former, thanks to Edwin Dela Cruz 29 points, unloaded an unnerving attach in the final six minutes behind the gutsy moves of Juanito Payumo and high leaping Kram to finally pull away from the hard fighting losing side.

Sheraton Towers pushed back Minhal Holiday Inn to post its fifth win by 84-58. Al Khozama clipped Al Faisaliah by 89-61 for its fifth straight victory. Earlier, the victors had defeated Olaya Palace by 111-90. With these victories, Sheraton alongwith Khozama have qualified for the last four of the Inter hotel division.

In the last of the action, Intercontinental (Al Hada) handily won against Al Faisaliah 96-65. Veteran Ayan Dibaratum three points shot opened the initial tense game as the rival boys were puzzled and it took them 2.15 minutes before the first shot from Anthony Fontanilla who fished out a foul for a split charity. The all-veteran players of Egamino wee on for more winning strategy to secure full points and try to strengthen their hold for the fourth slot of the semifinal. Now, it will be a do or die for Riyadh Palace and the Intercon teams, as the winner will clinch the fourth semifinal slot.

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.

The registration for 6-feet and Below category and the Friday Morning Club are still open. Tentative opening for the 6-feet and Below category will be during the first week of October. For registration, call Carlos D. Ollero or Flor Almoite on 454-3300.

Summarized scores

Dallah hospital (85) – B. Tianes 25, B. Angeles 22, L. Medes 20, E. Tomeldan 6, E. Gomez 5, V. Babasa 3, J. Pingol 2, T. Pingol 2 beat El Seif Engineering (71) – Ariel Olmedo 17, G. Estrada 17, M. Castillo 10, R. Esguerra 9, R. Estrada 7, R. Jopista 5, J. Corporal 2, B. Olmedo 2, U. Tenoso 1, E. Sales 1. Referees – Alex Sanchez, Rey Javier.

Al Khozama (111) – F. Aquino 42, T. Astrologo 26, J. Bulan 16, E. Cuyong 8, A. Valencia 7, G. Donato 4, F. Hisham 3, J. Hadlock 2, L. Isuga 2, J. Punzalan beat Olaya Palace (90) – E. Dela Cruz 30, A. Fernandez 25, R. Navarro 13, J. Payumo 9, B. Dimaapi 7, Kram 4, J. Sumat 2. Referees – Alex Sanchez, Rey Javier.

Intercontinental (96) – Dibaratum 32, A. Roble 21, N. Egamino 18, Jhun Triunfo 9, R. Trillanes 6, Joel Triunfo 3, V. Edan 3, A. Sanchez 2, J. Alonzo 2 beat Al Faisailiah (65) – A. Fontanilla 35, Fernandez 8, H. Anical 7, J. Estrella 6, M. Buenaflor 4, M. Tiedemann 3, J. Manicani 2. Referees – Rey Jaiver, Bobet Genese.

LM Ericsson (87) – P. Gonzales 18, A. Alejano 18, A. Dela Cruz 18, G. Lata 11, A. Lopez 7, Q. Crescini 5, M. Nieto 3, R. Concepcion 3, A. Bawar 2, R. Lo 2 beat TFC (73) – R. Navarro 23, V. Dela Cruz 21, G. Pasumbal 13, J. Magpantay 12, E. Masangkay 4. Referees – Nestor Carlos, Ernie Dela Cruz.

Saudi Media (95) – R. Encinas 36, A. Bermejo 16, G. Eden 13, J. Japson 9, Gabriel 8, J. Talaban 4, R. Petil 4, J. Campo 3, R. Pineda 2 beat Dallah hospital (75) – B. Tiames 19, J. Yap 13, L. Medes 12, E. Tomeldan 10, B. Angeles 9, V. Babasa 6, J. Pingol 2, J. Cobrador 2, D. Agno 2. Referees – Ernie Dela Cruz, Muhammed Villamena.

Olaya Palace (87) – E. Dela Cruz 29, J. Payumo 25, Kram 17, Enteria 9, R. Navarro 7 beat Riyadh Palace (76) – D. Samaniego 21, R. Supan 18, W. Manahan 17, T. Natividad 8, A. Roque 6, R. Testado 4, B. Osorio 2. Referees – Alex Sanchez, Raul Aragon.

Sheraton Towers (84) – R. Carlos 18, S. Lagman 15, R. Capati 9, M. Egamino 9, M. Costales 6, L. Morales 6, R. Tatson 6, J. Buan 6, R. Delos Reyes 4, Rino Delos Reyes 3, A. Reyes 2 beat Minhal Holiday Inn (58) – M. Sta Maria 20, J. Dela Pena 14, W. Dula 14, B. Banug 6, F. Farah 4. Referees – Alex Sanchez, Edmar Buena.