JEDDAH, 1 November — After a long period of silence and waiting, the Filipino Basketball Association (FBA) headed by Gil Manese finally got the nod of the management of Samsung Electronics to principally sponsor the biggest basketball tournament in Jeddah for the year 2002.
This was made possible through the initiative and generosity of Khalid Hussain Muhammad (promotions & dev. manager), Essam Abbas (asst. marketing G.M. Electronics) and Muhaid Osman M. Fadl (advertising director) of United Matbouli Group, the distributor of Samsung & Terim brand of home appliances and electronics.
Both parties (Gil Manese of FBA and Khalid Hussain Muhammad of Samsung Electronics (UMG) inked the principal sponsorship agreement. The tournament will run from Nov. I, 2002 to February 2003 at the most popular Sheraton Compound Basketball Court in Jeddah. Organized by FBA, the premier basketball tournament organizing group in the Western Region, the cagiest will be participated in by more than thirty teams coming from various companies, hospitals, hotels and supermarkets as follows: Division A — Inter-Commercial (Open): Jeddah Slashers of Ferdie Dalinoc and Juanito Magalang, NAI — Juffali of Alex Vidal and Boy Corsega.
Sadafco of Bandar Mahmoud and Ramon Borja. Sjgma Paints of Mike & Amira Ali and and Watani Supercenter of Sammy Lomboy and Monching Constantino. Division B — Inter Commercial (non-rated reiforced): AI Anjal Schoo of Daniel Lee Bokelman, Brutos of Ramon Borja, Dexol Transmission of Warren Lawrence, King Abdul Aziz University Hospital, Universal Motors Agency, Top Travel of Martin Ramos & Abdulrahman Birung and Red Thunder of Boy Lucas. Division C — Inter-Company Bona fide: C-l (Strong Teams): At Tayar Plastic Company of Fahad Alkhuteifi and Omie Araneta. Dynarabia Co., Ltd of Martin (Jun) Natad. El Khereiji Co. of Tata Halili, Hafil of Jojo Esquivias, Danny Lequins and Nap Solis, Jeddah Hilton of Roger Acayan NAI-Juffali of Alex Vidal and Samsung of Melchor Lawigan & Leslie Reyes. C-2 (Weak Teams — Group I): AI Majal Service Master ofKen Bautista, AI Yanabie of Joseph Villanueva, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital of Ric Aguinaldo, SBG-RPD of Anwar Hafez and Feling Manese, Unilever S.A. of Mazzen, Reda and Leo Rivera and ALJ- Toyota of Jimmy Beltran & Jun Gonzales.
C-2 (weak teams — Group 2): AIJ- Rehabilitation Hospital of Kennedy De Leon & Lando Santelices. AMS Baeshen Tea Industries of Jess Clata. Jeddah Cable (Al Hjjaz Cargo) of Mahmood Protacio & Felix Jordan, Leylaty of Mir Ayanattulah & Chabel, Saudi ABV of Feljx Sarmiento, Siyanco ofCorly Obtjnalla and Bgy. Jamjoom ‘96 ofDonald and Ramon Borja. FBA president Gil Manese, Commissioner Hernan Huerto and Tournament Chairman Lito Martin are all one in saying that this is the second time that FBA will be having a tournament with more than thirty teams joining the big event.
The first one was the one co-principally sponsored by Police sunglasses and Seiko watches last year . Regarded as the veteran and leading basketball organizer in Jeddah, he started getting involved in 1994 through the motivation of the basketball legend in Jeddah (Osman Ismael) Expected to support the cagefest, aside from the principal sponsor (Samsung) are House od Donuts (Sameer Nassier), Giordano Fashions (M.A. K. Jeelani), Sadafco, Nivea (Sami Michamich & Mubarak Bin Madi), Pepsi-Bugshan, TFC (Nonoy Velo), Power Horse, Caesars Juices, SkyFreight Forwarders, CMS Int’l and Sports World Tailoring. Expected to attend the gathering are high officials from the Consulate General of the Philipines, well known leaders from the Filipino community, managers of participating companies and the newly crowned Miss Peñafrancia of Jeddah, the singing sensation Janet Cervito. All basketball fans are invited to attend the opening ceremony at the Sheraton Compound Basketball Court on Nov. I, from 5:00 p.m. Referees are Benjie Asa, Jing Abalos, Danny Ramos, Danny Gulapa, Omeng Labrias, Atoy Anico, Ed Fernandez and many others.
