JEDDAH: A Riyadh select team is coming down to Jeddah for a two-day exhibition basketball games against three reinforced Jeddah teams during the Eid holidays.
This showpiece event dubbed 1st Filsama Basketball League Invitational Battle of the Best will take place Sept. 21 and 22 at the Jeddah Sports Academy court on Tahlia-Sitteen Road in Aziziah District.
Open Rated teams at the regular Filsama tourney namely Unilever, Pattaya Restaurant and RJM Cargo-Friendster have each boosted their lineups with standouts from the Eastern Province to try and match the much-hyped strength of the Riyadh team, which will be bannered by four ex-PBL
players in point guard Paolo Malonzo, also a former Nueva Ecija Pariots in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association, Noel David, a forward, center James Smith and forward Edward Penning.
Unilever manager-coach Leo Rivera has enlisted the services of Eldrin Simpas, a former 6-foot-2 Lyceum of the Philippines University varsity, Omar Asmad, a former PCU Dolphin and Osaka-PBL and Abdul Gafur Ibno, an exciting player from Riyadh and former University of San Carlos Cebu varsity. Also added as reinforcements were Buboy Rodriguez and Joel Duallan, both former Shell players in the PBA. Rivera said the team would carry the banner of Rexona-Unilever whose participation in the Filsama special project was sponsored by Unilever Brand Manager Feras Samir Yashou.
RJM Cargo, with managers Jag Malit and Cris Melebo at the helm of the recruitment with inputs from coaches Amang Catador, Allen Ng and Roger San Pedro, is flying in five well-credentialed players namely Allan de Castro, Albert Arnoy, Rolly Bisda, Eugene Santos and Dave Gaña.
While Unilever and RJM have been aggressive in chasing basketball talent outside of Jeddah, veteran Pattaya Restaurant coach Boy Corsega is keeping the faith in his old reliables and bringing in only two reinforcements in Calo brothers Kim and Arnold.
Under the tournament format the first day winners will clash for the championship the next day with the losers to play for third and fourth place.
For more details, please contact organizers Abdulmoen “Teng” Laguialam at 050901 0375, Ruben Villarosa at 050452 2745 and Manny Manalo at 0542586858.
Teams:
Riyadh Selection — Paolo Malonzo 5’10 Ex PBL -Welcoat, Ex MBA Nueva Ecija Patriots, Noel David 6’2 Ex PBL - Red Bull, James Smith 6’1 Ex PBL, Roel Asay 6’4 UST varsity, Edward Penning 6’3 Ex PBL Hapee Toothpaste, Julius Morales 5’8 Pangasinan State University, Fundador Aguinaldo 5’10, Joshua Caroc 5’10 Zambales Colleges, Victor Quintal 6’0, Jojo Custodio 5’9, Jess Pangilinan 6’3, Sherwin Garcia 6’1 , James Asis, Aries Aspa, Teddy Soriano; manager Ver Dela Cruz, coach Polly Arellano; organizers Jamael Dawood, Teddy Soriano and James Asis
Unilever— M . Martinez Lyceum University - Manila/Makati Stars - NBC/Whiz - PBL/Silka - PBL Open, L. Mendoza Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila varsity, Salagoste, C. Alfad Zamboanga University varsity/Palarong Pambansa, D. Dumalogdog, Diaz, Lopez, Hernandez , Simon, Uddin, Asmad Omar PCU - varsity/Osaka DLSU - PBL/Silka PBL Open, E. Simpas Lyceum University, varsity/Spring Cooking Oil - PBL/NBL, A. Ibno (Jordan), Buboy Rodriguez 6’1 ex-PBA (Shell), Joel Duallan 6’4 ex-PBA (Shell), Baloloy Rojo 5’8, Hanafy Abubakar 5’8, Jong Mamang 5’5 ; manager-coach Leo Rivera, assistant coach Lang Indal, team coordinators Joel and Julani Entoman
Pattaya Restaurant — Omeng Sahagun 5’7 Polytechnic University of the Philippines varsity, Ryan Aguam 5’8 Manuel L. Quezon University varsity, Rey Buhat 5’8 Inter-Town Selection- Laguna, Aries Macaspac 5’6 Assumption College varsity, Eric Mabarit 5’10 Industrial City Selection, Jun Omo 6’2 Inter-Town Selection- La Union Balauan, Dindo Garces 6’3 University of Batangas varsity, Eric Sagala 6’3 Perpectual College varsity, John Rebulado 6’1 Rizal Institute off Technology varsity, Abril Mabarit 5’10 Arellano University varsity, Kim Calo University of Visayas, Arnold Calo 6’3 San Miguel Beer- Ex PBA; head coach Boy Corsega, assistant coach Julius Gorospe, statistician Atong Guttierez, team manager Edwin Tulah
RJM Cargo- Friendster Selection — JR Villegas 5’11 North Western Lyceum varsity, Bryan Adaya 6’2 NCBA varsity, Allan De Castro 5’11 Batangas Blades, Albert Arnoy 6’4 West Negros University varsity, Rolly Bisda 6’0 Pampanga Dragons,
Eugene Santos 6’2 JRU/CCp/De Ocampo varsity, Dave Gaña 5’10 University of Baguio Foundation varsity, Noy Soliveres 5’7 Sorsogon, Jeff Disquitado 5’10 STI varsity, Val Atienza 6’2 Laguna, Ralph Garcia 5’8 University of Visayas, Amo Yusri 6’1 Saudi player, Jeff Galsote 5’8 Laguna, Rommel Sumayao 5’10 Bicol, Passion 6’3 Angeles University varsity, Arnel Balagtas 5’11, Cris Melebo 5’10, Osorio 5’5; coach Amang Catador; assistant coaches Allen Ng, Roger San Pedro; managers Jag Malit, Cris Melebo ; team coordinators BenjieTelebrico and Jun Laron
