Conrad Dubai used a strong second half to trounce Emaar Hospitality Group 85-60 in the inaugural Synergy Sports’ Inter-Hotel Basketball Tournament at Al Twar 2 Sports Hall.
The game was close in the first two quarters before captain Philipp Villanueva, who top-scored with 22 points, sparked a big rally for Conrad in the third quarter to give them a commanding 18-point lead going into the final period.
Villanueva and shooting guard Carlo Morales attacked from inside and out while Steve Olweny and player-coach Harold Abonitalla used their tall frame to get more rebounds, dominate the paint, and sustain their lead in the fourth quarter.
Morales finished with 20 markers while Olweny and Abonitalla combined for 21 points and Roland Mahalong added 13 for Conrad Dubai.
“We dished out a solid game because of our familiarity with each other,” Abonitalla told Sport360°. “We just stuck with our system, played good defence, and shared the ball.”
Elsewhere, Atlantis The Palm, Dubai defeated Auris Plaza Hotel- Al Barsha 60-51, while Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate registered a 71-62 come-from-behind victory over The H Hotel.
Mövenpick entered the fourth quarter down by two, 46-44, but they imposed suffocating defence and held The H Hotel scoreless for more than five minutes while Roberto Bajay scored 15 of his 37 points in the final period.
Mövenpick player-coach Rey Mandane said: “I told my players we had to go full throttle and give everything we had in the fourth period. They responded very well and everyone was happy because of our first victory.”
Scorers
Conrad Dubai 85: Philipp Villanueva 22; Carlo Morales 20; Roland Mahalong 13; Harold Abonitalla 11; Steve Olweny 10; Victor Chalfoun 5; Mark Felebrico 4
Emaar Hospitality Group 60: Rontgen Abando 17; Jay Gementiza 15; Reggie Isidro 9; Philip Batinga 7; Nicolas Claudio 6; Franz Baltazar 5; Froilan Panganiban 1
Mövenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate 71: Roberto Bajay 37; Ferdie Tranate 10; Vince Morales 9; Rey Mandane 7; Kenneth Palmos 6; Allan Abrematea 2
The H Hotel 62: Adrian Sogolio 27; Ricky Cabanlit 9; Nash Mwamba 9; Roel Bernardo 8; Cedric Calusin 6; Charles Ferrer 3
