BY JEBB CABRIANA

RIYADH — Following a successful opening of the 2018 Hoteliers League Riyadh’s Basketball Tournament, defending champion Al-Faisaliah and second placer Ritz-Carlton posted wins in the leagues first four games. Joining them in the win column were the new teams Fairmont Riyadh and Vivienda Hotel and Villas.

The first game saw Al-Faisaliah defending its crown against last year’s tormentor Kempinski, 67-54. The champion took advantage of Kempinski’s scoreless third frame to post its maiden win through Nino Lauriaga’s superb performance who posted double-double 24 points and 15 rebounds. Bryan Christian Ambrosio and Jurald Dave Ibanez added 15 and 8 points each. Rommel Yalung and Vincent Quinto topped the efforts of Kempinski with 17 and 15 points, respectively, not enough to snatch the first win of the season.

In the second game, new comer Vivienda marked its entry with a huge scoring encounter against host Sheraton Riyadh, 93-68. Literally, Vivienda crashed the latter in the first three quarters enabling them to win with a huge 25-point margin. Jan Franco Rempillo hailed Player of the Game with his 18 points showing who got support from Ericson Francia, Jonathan Desabile and Christian Alnas who delivered 12, 11, 11 points, respectively. Noli Moralit and Marvin Delos Reyes led Sheraton with 22 points apiece.

The third match featured the come-backing Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya and new fan favorite Fairmont Riyadh. The former led most of the game only to see its team scrambled entering the final canto where the latter outscored it. Jayson Tuano broke out in the third and final quarters with 15 out of his total 17 points to lead Fairmont to its inaugural win, 67-65, ambushing Hyatt. Two more players, John Benedict Gasillos and Jose Yuzon III, chipped in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Meanwhile, Reymar Olivo was the bright spot for Hyatt recording an enormous 30 points and 7 rebounds in a heartbreaking loss.

The fourth game was between last season’s second placer Ritz-Carlton and another newbie Holiday Inn Riyadh Meydan with the former winning the match, 93-80. Showing that it is still a contender, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh had a balance attacking game from its Power Four led by Jeffrey Samson with 26 points, while Clarkton Browly, Charles Bryan Valenzuela and Jeremias Calago added 17, 16 and 14 points, respectively. On the other hand, Freddie Redulfin had a stellar performance and dropped a league high 36 points out of which 24 were from the three-point line. This didn’t make Holiday Inn a winning team though as it received its first loss to welcome the season.

Scores:

Al-Faisaliah 67 — Lauriaga 24, Ambrosio 15, Ybanez 8, Hall 7, Pineda 5, Lopera JC 2, Lopera J 2, Marjes 2, Inigo 2.

Kempinski 54 — Yalung 17, Quinto 15, Belnas 8, Recto 6, Saliganan 4, Javero 2, Toque 1.

Quarters: 20-15, 31-35, 47-35, 67-54.

Vivienda 93 — Rempillo 18, Francia 12, Desabile 11, Alnas 11, Waban 7, Manalo 7, Dimaunahan 6, Lajato 5, Macuha 5, Lat 3, Simon 2, Punzalan 2, Mariano 2, Manila 2.

Sheraton 68 — Moralit 22, Delos Reyes M 22, Delos Reyes A 9, Concepcion 5, Go 4, Manuel 3, Player 3.

Quarters:: 21-15, 45-23, 70-41, 93-68.

Fairmont 67 — Tuano 17, Gasillos 11, Yuzon 10, Garcia 9, Bangalan 5, Arguelles 4, San Andres 4, Dionido 2, Moralde 2, De Guzman 2, Saniel 1.

Hyatt 65 — Olivo 30, Tanael 13, Cumeda 11, Jimenez 6, Olavere 5.

Quarters:: 8-12; 22-30; 45-50; 67-65.

Ritz-Carlton 93 — Samson 26, Browly 17, Valenzuela 16, Calago 14, Reyes 7, Sales 5, Abalos 4, Roque 2, Trongcoso 2.

Holiday Inn 80 — Redulfin 36, Herrera 16, Ocampo 11, Arandia 9, Ayson 4, Maycong 2, Bualat 2.

Quarters: 23-24; 46-40; 76-56; 93-80.