JEDDAH, 7 February 2003 — Consul General Kadatuan P. Usop will open the 2nd Seiko and 12th PEBA basketball tournament today at the Industrial City basketball court. This much-awaited basketball tournament attracted some twenty-two teams from the Industrial City area and will be featuring some new players.
“This will be a different kind of tournament,” said Felix Jordan, president of PEBA.
The difference is that in the Rated Division, instead of spreading out the players to form at least four teams, PEBA formed two balanced teams instead. These two teams will play a seven-game series, and whoever wins four games, will be declared the champion.
The other divisions, inter-company and the inter-company non-rated will play a double round-robin schedule, with top teams qualifying into the semifinals. The championship series will be a best-of-three series.
Action is expected to be physical. Thus, Jordan is appealing to teams and spectators for cooperation. “We are bent to finish this tournament in the best possible way. We know that emotions are high during games, but we have the organization to handle emotional games.
All we ask from players and spectators is their understanding and sense of sportsmanship. After all, we are bringing this tournament to the Industrial City for physical fitness and camaraderie.”
Al-Hussaini & Company, the distributor of Seiko watches in the Kingdom, is the main sponsor of this tournament. Minor sponsors include Fuji Films, “Ay Sarap” Restaurant, CAPNET International, Pioneer Allianz, Coca-Cola, ABS-CBN, The Filipino Channel, Egypt Air, Al-Hejaz Air and Sea Cargo, Felora Cargo Freight Services - Philippines, Farnas Cargo Services, Al-Ghomri Sports, SCI/Dulux Paints, National Foods Company (Luna products), Healthline Sports, National Biscuit & Confectionary, Cortina Dairy Company, and Delta Water Company.
Guests from the sponsors will grace the opening ceremony. Expected to attend are Hussain S. Salahi, Marketing and sales manager of Al-Hussaini & Company; Vani Ganesan, Finance Advisor/Accounts Officer, Fuji Films; Iqbal Mirza, Deputy General Manager, Fuji Films; Ronald Mangua, Manager/Proprietor, “Ay Sarap” Restaurant; Jibreel De Vera, Secretary-General, Alyansa; Bert Nolod, Operations Manager, CMS Express International; Cesar Lontok, Regional Manager, CAPNET International; and Danny Liquin. L’oreal, Saudi Arabia.
To spice up the Haj holidays, the PEBA, in cooperation with the FBA, will host the championship match of the regional basketball tournament on Feb. 13 at the Industrial City. This tournament will feature teams from Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah. The first two games will be played at the Sheraton Villa Compound courts, while the championship will be contested in the Industrial City.
Basketball fans are looking forward to watch the games as the team from Dammam were said to be composed to former pros from the Philippines. Last Eid of Ramadan, in a regional tournament held in Dammam, the home team whipped teams from Riyadh and Jeddah. Kibitzers say, it will be payback time, for Jeddah.
Participating teams in this 3-month-long tournament are: Rated Divison, Bonny Milk/Al Ghomri Sports and “BM” Best Team. Division B, inter-company open non-rated teams include July Express, Talk & Text, Seiko, and “BM” Best Team.
The inter-company bona fide division is divided into two groups. Group A has United Cartons, Jeddah Foam, JEDAC, Electro Industries, Delta Water, Saudi Cable, King Abdul Azziz Hospital, and Al- Ghomri Sports/Jeddah Cable. For Group B, the entries are Southern Can Co., Grain Silos Mills Org., Saudi Pipe System, SYNTECH Company, SCI Dulux, Al Mutlak Steel Industries, Nepro Plastic Company, and Al Sorayai Carpet Company. (Raffy Osumo)
