JEDDAH, 1 August 2003 — The first King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital Inter-Color Basketball Tournament kicked off with a big bang last Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel here. The event is being organized by the Filipino Organization for Communal Unit and Service (FOCUS) with cooperation of Overseas Filipino Sports Association (OFSA).
The tournament opened with much pomp and pageantry as 14 teams in resplendent uniforms led by its lovely muses paraded in front of a jampacked crowd. Thirteen teams from KFAFH and the host team from Crowne Plaza Hotel are participating.
The teams are: Admin (gray); Bio- Med (dark blue); Crowne Plaza (navy blue); Dental Clinic (dark green); Dietary (maroon); Electrical (red); Housekeeping- A (black); Housekeeping-B (green); HVAC (yellow); Mechanical (aqua blue); Medical Records (white/black); Nursing (white); PMMS (sky blue) and Support Services (violet). The Crowne Plaza Hotel emerged with the highest number of votes from the judges and won the Best Muse and Best in Uniform awards.
Primo Quiocson, Kim Batuan and the 2 finalist in the recently concluded Jeddah Star Quest 2003 at the Philippine Consulate, Judith Reyes and Jocelyn Ledesma, entertained the audience, while Juliet Roa and Butch Medina performed a dance number.
The Spaghetti dance performed by the MTU dance group: Geldy Pingul; Conz Talla; Juday Reyes; Rowie Castillo and Roseann Villarin of KFAFH was wildly cheered.
Apart from Dr. Fouad H. Mujallad, a KFAFH official and an international health care consultant among the guest speakers were: Essam Abbas of Samsung Electronics- United Matbouli Group; Engr. Muhammad Bayoumi of Al-Haddaf Tailors.
Seth Bentain, FOCUS Chairman said, “This event was a possibility due to a fruitful partnership between Crowne Plaza and KFAFH”.
Awarding of the plaques of appreciation was handed over by FOCUS officers to Samsung Electronics-United Matbouli Group in recognition of the company’s support for the tournament during this occasion. Essam Abbas and Muhammad Al-Areefy acknowledged it in behalf of Samsung-UMG.
The sponsor for the event were: Samsung Electronics-United Matbouli Group as the main sponsor; Crowne Plaza Hotel; Arab News; ABS-CBN International The Filipino Channel; Giordano Fashion; Almarai Dairy Company; Pfizer; Abbott; Future for Modern Products (FMP); Gulf Medical Co. Ltd.; Ziyad Al Qudaibi Trading; Pepsi Cola Industrial Co.; Al-Haddaf Tailors and Quatar Airways.
Also present in this occasion were Jet Gonzales of the Filipino Channel (ABS-CBN International) and TFC correspondents are: Raffy Osumo, Chales Tabbu and Rod Resma. Seth Bentain, Chairman of the KFAFH organizing Committee thanked the KFAFH officials, sponsoring companies, while Nani Castro, KFAFH Basketball Commissioner, closed the program with a ceremonial toss to kick off the games commenced. The tournament committee is headed by Seth Bentain, Chairman; Nani Castro, Basketball Commissioner; Arlen Sallador, Invitation and Promotions; Bert Niangco, Transportation; Totit Jabonette, Finance; Ricky Digdigan and Allan Abian, Secretariat while Ruding Cuevas as the Technical Committee.
Other members of the committee are: Jun Sanalila; Bong Morante; Ed Rabacca; Larry Santiago; Rey Brioso; Rey Abayon; Ronnie Roxas; Jeffrey Jonas; Hermie Marcellan; Narciso Lacaste; Loren Palilio; Conrado Pahela; Felix Regalado; Stephen Mapa; Zaldo Nuqui; Joseph Bartolome; Cid Castaneda; Ronnie Humangit; Alex Reyes; Elmer Genovia; Dodong Flores and Bobby Sierra while Muhammad Bayoumi as the consultant for both FOCUS and OFSA.
The basketball game scheduled on Thursday, July 31, feature the following: 5:30-700 p.m. Med. Records vs. Dental Clinic; 7:00-8:30 p.m. Administration vs. Mechanical; 8:30-10:00 p.m. Housekeeping A vs. Electrical.
Friday games: 5:30-7:00 p.m. PMMS vs. Crowne Plaza; 7:00-8:30 p.m. HVAC vs. Housekeeping B; 8:30-10:30 p.m. Housekeeping A vs. Support Services.
