RIYADH, 19 April — The FEMAS Cup 2002 Basketball Tournament hosted by the Federation of Maranao Associations in Saudi (FEMAS) has finally got off to flying start recently at the White Palace Hotel basketball court, along old airport road, Riyadh.
Players from the participating teams paraded in order to select the best in uniform, with which the Hardcores Team won.
A simple opening ceremony was held in the presence of some Philippine Embassy officials, prominent community figures from various organizations in Riyadh and other spectators. Dr. Alexander M. Lucman, the FEMAS organizer, officially led the jump-ball to symbolically open the first game played by the Hardcores and PBBA teams. It was then followed by the 2nd game played by the Shakba & Imarantaons. The Hardcores team won the first game while the Shakba team won the second game.
The Federation of Maranao Associations in Saudi (FEMAS) is an umbrella organization of at least 21 Riyadh-based Maranao associations.
The Maranao tribe is the majority among the Muslims in the Philippines, situated mainly in the province of the Lanao del Sur and Marawi City. FEMAS has been maintaining the first Maranao Website http://www.maranao.com being the main sponsor.
