JEDDAH: Last weekend Arriyadia and Arab News sponsored their first Annual Friendship Basketball Tournament at Faisal Park in south Jeddah.
The theme was to unite the basketball community and give recognition to the different nationalities that play in a friendly atmosphere. Jeddah United Sports Co. organized the two-day event inviting teams from the Egyptian, Philippine, Lebanese, American, Eritrean, and Saudi communities.
There were no player restrictions. Rated, unrated, young, old all came out to play for the top prize of SR 6,000 for first place and SR 3,000 for the second place.
First, second, and third place players each received trophies and medals for their efforts. Each team had to play three games to qualify for the semifinals.
Faisal Park entered three teams United Faisal, Faisal Park 1, and Faisal Park 2. The Ballers, The Bad Boys (Shamps), The Eagles, The Eritreans, and the Egyptians rounded out the teams. When the smoke cleared the final four were, The Ballers, The Bad Boys (Shamps), The Eagles, and the Egyptians. The first semifinal match up was the Ballers against the Egyptians.
The Egyptians were bigger and more experienced. They won 32 to 22 over the Ballers. Next the Eagles edged out the Bad Boys 23 to 19 to enter the final. The Ballers captured third place by beating the Bad Boys in a tight game 26 to 24.
The Egyptians walked away with the top prize because of their height and size they dominated in the paint pulling out the easy win. Talking to the teams after the games, everyone enjoyed the tournament saying that just getting the chance to play against each other was enough, even though winning was great. They felt that more events needed to be organized all around Jeddah where tournaments could be held.
