JEDDAH, 28 November 2006 — Jeddah’s finest Filipino basketball players will travel to Taif, a distance of 190 kilometers east of the city, this weekend for an exhibition game against their counterparts there.
The inaugural Taif Invitational Friendship Game between Jeddah Selection and Taif Selection will take place at 4:30 p.m. next Friday at the Al-Gaim Compound.
This event is being organized by OFW-COM headed by Overall Chairman Rigor Soriano, Sport Chairman Edwin Carreon, Team Manager Abad Obiena, and John Ubarro.
The Jeddah Selection will be bannered by veteran center John Gatchalian, inside the paint masters Dindo Garces, Joven Batuhan, guards Omeng Sahagun and Buboy Rapada and slam dunk king Louie Laxamana.
They will play alongside new kids in town Aries Macaspac, Roel Paule, ever reliable forward Pat Cecilio, Gary Santos and Rene Consignado.
Veteran coach Boy Corsega will mentor the team. Alex Acosta, Julius Gorospe and Al Manlutac are assistant coaches.
The team is sponsored by Semacs Electro-Mechanical Automotion Control Solution and managed by Robert Punzalan.
The Semacs sponsorship was facilitated by company owners Dr. Ahmad Al-Harkan, Soliman Al-Harkan and Ibrahim Abul Jadayel. Taif Selection will be banking on point guard Donie Cachola, veteran center Gil Calimlim, Peter San Pedro, forward Shane Sirious, Ricky Cassempre, Charlie Lagman, Nebron Mejares, Windell Basubas, Jonas Briones and Archie Perez.
The head coach is Arnold Ticman, team manager is Abad Obiena of Saudi Telecom and the assistant team manager is Romy Batistis.
This exhibition game admission is free as a community service for the Filipino community in Taif, according to the organizers.
The Jeddah Selection players under the banner of Semacs have been together for quite some time. Some new faces have been added for the Taif match. The last time they played a select team, from the Eastern Province, was during the UMEA-WPBL Invitational a few months back.
