By KMA PERERA JEDDAH — Al Yamamah were crowned as the 2017 SAGCO Cup 2017 champion by defeating SAGCO1 by 85-75 in a spirited encounter here. It was sweet revenge for them, as they got one back after losing to SAGCO1 in the final last year and also in this year’s first round as well. The SAGCO Cup finals were held at SAGCO Basketball Court at Industrial Area in the weekend, and the chief guests were Ramnarayan Iyer – executive editor of Saudi Gazette, and Alexander Estomo – vice consul of Philippine Consulate, Jeddah. Up till the end of the third quarter, both teams were battling it out neck-and-neck by trading baskets and even triples. But SAGCO1 with few players on their bench and their best showing distress signals due to fast pace of play, in the fourth quarter, faded as Al Yamamah took full control and silenced the SAGCO1 fans to triumph by ten points. Estrella Vince of Al Yamamah won the best player award. Ehab Marakby – HR manager of SAGCO awarded the Cup to the Al Yamamah Team. William Javier of Al Yamamah won the Most Valuable Player award with a return Air ticket to Dubai, which was sponsored by STTB Travels. Al Yamamah Team won the prize money of SR.2500, which was sponsored by NCMS Catering Services. The best players of the tournament in A Division were William Javier (Al Yamamah), Vince Esrella (Al Yamamah), Rudy Opena (SAGCO1), Oliver Morado (SAGCO1) and Jun Rarama of NAPICO. Tournament second runner up in A Division was NAPICO Team. In the B Division final Net Channel defeated Caron United team to win the championship by 78-67. Milo Trasmonte was awarded the best player. The best players in B Division were Milo Trasmonte (Net Channel), Eromes De Tores (Net Channel), Jeff Bustamante (Carton), Mark Evarretta (Carton) and Mark Masilang (AGM). The most valuable player award in the B Division was won by Milo Trasmonte of Net Channel with a round trip air ticket to Dubai, which was sponsored by Majed Travel. AGM Team won the second runner up spot. Engr. Rami Al Dobi awarded the B Division champions cup to the Net Channel. The cash prize of SR2000, for B Division, was sponsored by the NCMS Catering Services as well. Addressing the event, Iyer congratulated the participant teams and the organizers for the super sporting spectacle. He expressed his best wishes to future tournaments while stating that he was pleased to to be presdent for the finals, after vicariously covering their feats of the earlier rounds in his media outlet, with continuous media support for the tournament by Saudi Gazette. KM Antony Perera, SAGCO Basketball Coordinator, in his closing remarks thanked all participants, sponsors and guests, and declared that it is the sincere wish of all in SAGCO, to continue and expand this tournament as a major Social Responsibility event in Jeddah.