JEDDAH, 20 June 2003 — The 1st ICBA (Industrial City Basketball Association) Grand Opening took place last Friday the COCG (Cooperative Office for Call and Guidance) Sports Complex located in Sanaiyah, Phase I, Industrial City. The tournament started with the 21 participating teams parading in their colorful, stylish uniforms to the pleasure of the standing room only crowd. The tournament will run through the summer and is scheduled to conclude in August.
The participating teams are as follows: Inter-Company Division Group B: BRC Ind’l. Co. Ltd., Al Ghomri for Sports, Masat Al Sharq, Saudi Ind’l Proj. II, Saudi Pre-cast Co., Saudi Pipe Co., Southern Can and Grain Silos Mills. Inter-Company Division Group A: Delta Water, Jeddah Cable Co., King AbdulAziz Hospital, Red Sea Palace Hotel, A.K. Saeed Softdreams, Tetra Pak and Tropang Panis. Open Non-Rated Division: AMIANTIT, Al Ghomri for Sports, Al Hejaz Air & Sea Cargo and Solid North. Open Rated Division: Goodys Al Aoun and UMEA Led Wood.
After the parading of the teams, Ismail Perry of Islamic Education Foundation gave a moving spiritual message and invocation. The welcoming address was given by Goody Vagedor, ICBA president, followed by a ‘Special Message’ from Mustapha U.H. Glang of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). The ‘Oath of Sportsmanship’ was delivered by Randy Commandante, which was followed up by an inspirational short message from Muhammad Bayoumi of Al Hadaf Sportswear.
Awards were then presented as follows: AMIANTIT Team took both the Best Uniform and the Best Mascot for Open Non-Rated. Masat Al Sharq took the Best Uniform and Al Ghomri for Sports took the Best Mascot in the Inter-Company Division Group ‘B’. Red Sea Palace Hotel took home the Best Uniform Award for Inter-Company Division Group ‘A’.
Awarding was followed by the ‘Declaration to Open the Tournament’ by Mahmoud Protacio, ICBA chairman, and the ‘ceremonial toss’ was thrown up by Mustapha U.H. Glang. The tournament then started official play with the opening game between AMIANTIT and Al Ghomi for Sports. This was a hard fought, exciting match, which ended with Al Ghomri overpowering AMIANTIT in the final minutes of play. The second game of ICBA’s Grand Opening Day featured the Rated teams of Goodys Al Aoun vs. UMEA Led Wood. UMEA had a full bench and overcame Goodys in a fine display from very talented players. The famous full house crowd of Industrial City was boisterous as usual.
The main sponsor of the tournament is Mahmoud Saeed Collective Co. (Industrial Trading Services). Other sponsors include Al Babtain Carton, Oases Trading Est., Tetra Pak Co. Ltd., Modern Dairies Co. Ltd., SCS International, CMS International, ABS - CBN (TFC), Al Ghomri for Sports and Food Spec. Co. Ltd.
