PORCH basketball tourney starts today

JUBAIL: The 9th season of Pinoy Overseas at Royal Commission Hospital (PORCH) Basketball Tournament in association with Filipino Overseas Workers at Royal Commission Hospital in Jubail kicks off today at the Huwaylat Gymnasium here.
The opening ceremony is set for 2 p.m.
The PORCH Organizing Committee said the event is aimed at providing an outlet for for entertainment/pastime and generate positive values for a healthy mind, body and spirit of the workers from as far as the remote areas in Abu Hadriyah, Khursaniyah, Fadhili, Manifa, Tanajib and Khafjie as well as Jubail Industrial City.
“We are dedicating this tournament to all basketball aficionados here in the northern area of Eastern Province, most of them travelled to Alkhobar city every week to join the tournament similar to this, that is why we realized how important a community and sports association in this area considering the number of Filipino expatriates” said Jun Estruche, the overall chairperson of the tournament.
“We care for their safety and this will avoid long distance travel to Alkhobar during their game schedule. The Huwaylat Gymnasium is the center sports arena in Jubail and became our official sport venue since we started in 2006,” Estruche added.
The four months long cagiest is sponsored by Mobily & Globe Telecom and will feature Division A, where each team will have a height limit of 5-10 except for two players with a maximum height of 6-2 and no rated or commercial players, and Division B with a 5-7 and below players and no rated players as well.
Confirmed participating teams in Division A are Gulf Guard, Kabayan Restaurant, Al Khonaini Team, Global Environmental Management Services (GEMS), Saudi Ready Mix, East West Arcan, Royal Commission Hospital – Pirates, Flour Arabia, Daelim, PSG Gunners, Abyam Steel, while battling for Division B crown are Triomada, NTC Try Resto, Jesgil Thunder, Saudi Arabian Kentz, Reda Fire & Hazzard,Shepherd Team, Saeed R. Al Zahrani Co. (SRACO), DAELIM Jer, 69ers, Ramjan Slasher, AEC Jaguars, Cebu Ninos, Confideral Pampanga, Espina Gems, Intruders and Bin Habeeb Team.
The opening ceremony will be hosted by Andee Anoche Cauyan and Patrick Padilla and will feature a parade of teams and colors, competition in Best Team in Uniform award and Most Organized Team award; plus special guest performer to entertain the crowd.
Labor Attaché Adam Musa of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh will grace the occasion in behalf of Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago together with prominent Filipino community leaders in the Eastern Province. The International Shooters Organization (ISO) will provide free photo coverage while Scouts Royale Brotherhood will be the official marshal and provide free hot and cold beverages during the opening ceremony.
Consistent with its objectives PORCH will also have free medical mission for the duration of the tournament and provide community relations and outreach program. They created profile and data base for all past and present teams to include addresses and phone numbers for future planned community activities and to aid PHL diplomatic missions in the Kingdom.
PORCH is an accredited community partner of POLO Philippine Embassy Eastern Region Operations and member of the umbrella organization All Filipino Community & Sports Commission (AFCSCOM).