32nd FBA tournament off to flying start
JEDDAH: The 32nd FBA Basketball Tournament started with a bang at the Sheraton Hotel Sports Complex here on Friday.
The opening program began with a colorful parade of the 32 teams followed by a welcome address of FBA president Edgar Mendoza and an inspirational message from Consul General Uriel Norman Garibay of the Philippine Consulate Jeddah. Labor Attache Vicente Cabe and Tayyab Ali Butt, Toya marketing assistant at Pinehill Arabia Food Ltd., the tournament major sponsor, also delivered speeches.
Other special guests that attended were: Lowell Plameras, managing director Media Brokers; Wu Gang, China Southern Airlines country manager; Ahmed Hassoun, Yogen Fruz operations manager; Vincent Montecastro of Al-injazat Trad. Co., Billy Jun Tabares, Jollibee marketing officer; Bong Retuya, marketing executive Royal Business Club, Lilia Malinao, marketing officer, New Placenta, Wenie Camba, Ksapi chairman, Ernie Apollo Kasapi vice chairman, Boy C. Cornejo, Kasapii exchairman, Rams Gunao and Adnan Mendoza of Saphil Events Unlimited, Industrial Sports Association President Eric Abrantes and Master Suliva, Jimmy Beltran of Alj-toyota, friend of the Filipino community and recipient of the Presidential Banaag Award Mohamed Bayoumi, The Gitnangsilangan. com of John Cabanding, 123 Smile by Master Edner Robles, officials of participating teams, and the PESOS Group.
The teams that paraded are: New Breed Anta, Chempoweroz, Danube, Kfafhtimeless, Mini Cooper-alnaghi, Saudi Oger Co. Ltd., Zami Airconditioning, Alj-toyota Hilux, Bint Najd Lions- Rabigh, DHL Express, House of Donuts, Qatar Airways, Symone, Tropang Pj-almajal, Unidecor, Al- Bilad Hotel, Al- Zafer Hotel, Issham Al- Hyatt Hotel, Jeddah Hilton Hotel, Movenpick Jeddah Hotel, Sheraton Jeddah Hotel, Flying Angels Basketball Team, Mohap, Paninos, Philips, Roberts & Friends-almuhaidib, Al-zafer Cargo, Bato, Centerpoint, Jeddah Mixtures, Jeddah Warriors, Roberts & Friends, Tetra Pak & Yummy-yummy.
The Best Team in Uniform trophies went to Al-bilad Hotel, House of Donuts, Mini Cooper-alnaghi and Saudi Oger while the Best Muse awardees were New Breed Anta, Jeddah Hilton Hotel, Movenpick Jeddah Hotel and Issham Hotel-jeddah Hawk.
The jampacked crowd at Sheraton basketball court witnessed song and dance numbers by Wilson Mendoza, Jovanni Ibanez, Neri Ostonal and the KSA Knight Movers. Valuable free raffle prizes from Toya, Palson products and Giordano were also given away. Erwin Reyes and Angel Garcia emceed the affair.
In first game between Flying Angels of coach Erick Pingul and manager George Feliciano and Paninos of manager Ernie Babawatan and veteran coach Gary Santos was a heartstopping contest that went to overtime with Flying Angels winning by 96-87.
Flying Angels president Dang Morales congratulated her team for a job well done. Christian Guimpatan top-scored for the Flying Angels with 30 points and was declared Best Player of the game. Pascual added 18 and Basa 14. Paninos had the Magat brothers leading the way with 24 and 21 points.
In the second and last game Unidecor team of Freddie Juance beat House of Donuts of coach Angel Garcia and manager Allan Pangan 84-79. Leading scorers for Unidecor were Dula 17 and Luna.
In addition to Toya of Pinehill Arabia Food Limited the other sponsors are: Pizza Fusion of Saed Al-hindi, managing director Samir Group and Business Development Manager George Chaoul; China Southern Airlines of Wu Gang, country manager; Western Union of Rodelon del Mundo, diaspora manager and Lowell Plameras, Media Brokers director; Yogen Fruz KSA of Ahmed Hassoun, Sky Freight Forwarders of Danny Abenes and Rene Quiambao, Jollibee of senior marketing officer Ricky Singian and Billy Jun Tabares, Himalaya Herbals and Veola of marketing representative Vicente Montecastro; Placenta by Psalmstre, CEO Jim Acosta and Lilia Malinao, Fruits in Ice Cream (FIC) of Jammam Al- Zahrani; Giordano fashion of Ahmedullah, General Manager and marketing officer Edward Pineda; Bison Energy Drink of Loai Saeed and Bong Retuya of Arts & Graphics and Royal Business Club.
FBA also expressed their thanks to the management of Sheraton Jeddah Hotel through the kindness and hospitality of Ramy S. Kurdi, Reda Hossain and its owner Fahad Al-nuaiser.
The Filipino Basketball Association headed by Mendoza, Jonathan Canda and Abel Chavenia is inviting everyone to watch the games Thursdays and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. For further details, please call 0502346231, 0567406853 and 0561150049 or e-mail at fbajeddah@ gmail.com. and staff including alumni.
In addition to basketball, darts and bowling the other sports featured in the competition are tennis, table tennis, volleyball and chess. The awards ceremony is set for middle of this month.