FBA 33rd tournament opens with a bang

JEDDAH:  The much awaited 33rd FBA basketball tournament started with a bang at the jampacked Sheraton Hotel Sports Complex here last Friday.
The opening program began with a colorful parade of the 32 teams followed by a welcome address by FBA President Edgar Mendoza and an inspirational message from Vice Consul Rodney Jonas Sumague of the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah together with Labor Attache Alex Padaen.
Other special guests who attended the event were Rene Quiambao, marketing manager of Sky Freight Forwarders; Lilia Malinao, marketing officer of New Placenta; Nilo Lucena of Ay-Sarap Restaurant, former Kasapi chairman Boy Cornejo, Manny Zafra of SRB, Teng Laguialam of FBL, Mohamed Bayoumi, friend of the Filipino community and recipient of Presidential Banaag Award; Alex Domingo, head of Spectrum; Bong Retuya of Bong Arts & Graphics, representatives of various sponsors, officials of participating teams and the PESOS Group.
Teams that paraded from four divisions: Inter-Company Bona fide – Alhamrani Company for Industry (RBF), Bright Star Communication (BSC), Gulf Taleed Commercial Services Co., Huta Group, Nesma & Partners, Nesma Holding Company Ltd., SAPMT-Aramco, Saudi Oger, Tetra Pak and Universal Metal Coating Co., Ltd. (UNICOIL); Inter-Hotel Division: Al-Bilad Hotel, Jeddah Hilton Hotel, Inter-Continental Jeddah Hotel, Le Meridien Jeddah Hotel, Movenpick Resort Al-Nawras, Movenpick Jeddah Hotel, Park Hyatt Jeddah, Radisson Blu Hotel, Rosewood Corniche Hotel and Sheraton Jeddah Hotel; Inter-Commercial Open Non-rated Division: Abna Marantao, Al-Muhaidib Robert & Friends, AVK Saudi Valves Mfg. Company Ltd., Combibo Catering, Maharlikans-Aida’s Cuisine, Nexuz Flight Operations Services, Paninos and Unidecor; Inter-Commercial Open Rated Division: SAMCO-Juffali, Fuji Elevator Selection, Arjed Catering, and HAL Consultant.
The Best Team in Uniform awardees were Al Bilad Hotel, Al-Hamrani, Gulf Taleed, Movenpick Resort Al-Nawras, Park Hyatt Hotel, Nesma Holdings Co. Ltd. and AVK. The Best Muse award went to Nesma & Partners, Inter-Continental Hotel, Park Hyatt, Gulf Taleed and Nesma Holdings.
Also, 2012 Himig Ng Kalayaan grand champion, Eugene Manimtim, and the Showtime Middle East grand champion, the KSA Knight Movers, entertained the crowed with their song and dance numbers. Angel Garcia and Master Art Suliva emceed the event.
Early game winners were team of SAMCO-Juffali of head coach Elmer Goze and team manager Glen Berdin which beat Fuji Elevator of coach Juanito Magalang in a lopsided game, 98-65. Defending champion Al-Bilad Hotel of coach Virgilio Macalinao and team manager Manny Untalasco beat the equally strong team of Movenpick Resort Al-Nawras of coach Gary Santos and team manager Edward Pelayo 76-58 while Al-Muhaidib-Robert & Friends of coach Pablo Viscayco and team manager, Robert Omar De Guzman overpowered AVK of coach Ruben Pior and Jimmy Aldeguer 83-61.
SAMCO Production Manager Leo Reparado congratulated his team for a job well done and their prized recruit, point guard Bhoyet Bautista, a former PBA Purefoods and 2006 NCAA MVP, was awarded Best Player of the game. Darwin Dula of Al-Bilad and Sanchez of Al-Muhaidib were also named best players. Top scorers for the winning teams were Reyes 17, Bautista and De Joya 13 each for SAMCO Juffali, Dula 28, Jemerson 13 and Bantillan 12 for Al-Bilad Hotel and Sanchez 19, Padernal 15 and Ramos 10 of Al-Muhaidib.
Generous sponsors and supporters of FBA include House of Donuts of Atef and Area Manager Hani Abdulsalam; Western Union of Rodelon del Mundo, diaspora manager and Lowell Plameras, Media Brokers Director, ABS-CBN TFC of Maribel Hernaez, Middle East Marketing Manager; and Alex Sales, KSA head Sales, New Placenta by Psalmstre, CEO Jim Acosta and Lilia Malinao, Ay-Sarap Restaurant of Lucena, Friendi Mobile of Jhun Abris, western region distributor head; Royal Brunei of Country Manager Yousuf Ali Javeed and Rizwan Hassan; Skyfreight Forwarders of managers Danny Abenes and Rene Quiambao, Palson Household Appliances of Sales Manager Issa Samhan; Spectrum of Alex Domingo, Bong Retuya of Bong Arts & Graphics and the PESOS Group.
Mendoza and FBA Commissioner Jonathan Canda also expressed their thanks and appreciation to their avid supporters, the management of Sheraton Jeddah Hotel through the kindness and hospitality of Ramy S. Kurdi, Reda Hossain and its owner Sheikh Fahad Al-Nuaiser.