JEDDAH, 27 July 2007 — In a fiercely contested friendly game, organized by Jeddah United Sports Company, as part of its anti-smoking campaign, Makkah’s Wehda team scored a narrow victory over Jeddah United 80-77 here on Tuesday night.
In the 1st quarter, the Makkah team, which had 17 points, three more than their rivals, improved their margin with the score 37-30 in the 2nd quarter. The margin narrowed in the 3rd quarter at 49-46. Toward the end of the final quarter, the teams tied on a couple of occasions at 66 and 69.
Both teams displayed their shooting skills. Abdul Rahman Ayfan of Jeddah United hit six three-pointers but teammate Mohannad Shobeen bagged the Most Valuable Player prize for scoring 26 points. For Wehda, Faisal Nasser received the MVP award for scoring 29 points.
The game was played in the best spirit of sportsmanship. Medals and prizes were awarded by Amr Qadi and Enis Okutan, both of the marketing department of Pharmaceutical Solutions Industry, which was the main sponsor of the event.
“We thought of supporting this match as it is part of the anti-smoking campaign – a noble cause,” Qadi told Arab News.
Also participating in the awards ceremony were Obaid Ghazi Madani, managing director of Jeddah United Sports Company (JUSC), which organized the tournament to increase awareness of the dangers of smoking. Organizers of the sports day included Lina Almaeena, director of JUSC and captain of the women’s basketball division, Dania Almaeena, Sara Almaeena, Shatha Rajab, Nora Ashrour and Marwa Ashrour in addition to several other volunteers and basketball enthusiasts.
The anti-smoking sports day is one of many sports events that JUSC organizes annually. Each event has a social message for the youth. Learning through sports is an effective way to teach the youth the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.
Jeddah United has previously organized a ‘Father and son tournament,’ a ‘Drink milk tournament’ and a ‘Milk and honey energy drink as an alternative to sodas tournament’ among some others.
The anti-smoking sports day came about as a result of the alarming death rate related to smoking. Each year, 23,000 people die across the Kingdom as a result of smoking. Participating in the anti-smoking campaign are Al-Eman Cancer Society and Health Promotion Society whose fliers were distributed at the venue. “Both teams played with their juniors and yet the standard of the game was praiseworthy,” Umar Abdul Salam, head coach of Jeddah United, who monitored the game on the field, said. “Jeddah United team is growing in experience and such encounters will help them a lot as their players are all high school boys,” he said. Jeddah United Coach Othman Barnawi, who has been coaching the team for a year, played for Wehda team before. “Jeddah United team is improving. If they practice daily instead of two days a week, they can show further improvement,” he said.
Raed Shaban, who organized the Wehda team for the match, said the only junior basketball team in Makkah had high school boys of 15 and 16 year olds. “I have myself played for the team before.”
Jeddah United Team: Mohannad Shobeen, Ahmed Zahid, Mohammad Hashen, Marwan Assad, Abdulrahman Ayfan, Rakan Barnawi, Omar Naseef, Hamed Foda, Ameen Zahid and Mansour Madani.
Wehda Team: Abdul Mohsen Nasir, Faisal Nasir, Zahid Al-Abbasi, Mohammad Ghazi, Mishal Eisa and Hosam Baghdadi.
Amin Bahartha and Mohammad Helmi were referees of the sports day.
Titans on a Roll:
Meantime, Team Titans, sponsored by Jeddah United Sports Company, (JUSC) clinched the Bracket A top spot with a 78-72 victory over Mulawin in the Almajal-Demolay Basketball Tournament at Almajal court at the weekend. Good team work, power and determination carried the Titans past Mulawin. Ryan Aguam led the Titan scorers followed by Den Den Amir, Sonny Camcaman, Jonel Lagon, and also thru the help of their teammates along with the shared knowledge of Alvin Monzon (coach), Jeff Judit (assistant coach) and their team captain Roly Ceriola. Their combined efforts brought them up to the top of Bracket A and as the waiting team in semifinals.
The team hope to go all the way to the championship game. Team Titans were almost a non-entry into this league, as their previous sponsor backed off at the last moment. However, like a bolt of lightning from nowhere, JUSC under the astute leadership of Obaid Madani and Lina Almaeena stepped in and provided the lifeline the Titans needed to participate in this tournament.
