The 2nd PSMMC-Sports Affairs Basketball Club (SABC) Inter-Department basketball tournament starts today at the Prince Sultan Military Medical City Skydome court here.
Tournament Commissioner Victor Boy Yabut confirmed the participation of 13 teams bannered by last season’s champion External Maintenance team. Completing the roster of participating teams are Nursing, Catering, Cath Lab, Zahran Maintenance, Zahran Housekeeping, PSCC Housekeeping, Physio Therapy, Prosthetics, Laundry, Rehab, Dialysis and Porter.
PSMMC Head of Support Services Mohammad Al-Fehaid and Sports Affairs Director Ibrahim Al-Hajlan will be the chief guests at the opening ceremony starting at 5 p.m., according to Yabut.
Andrew Loremia of External Maintenance will lead the oath of sportsmanship while Dexter Sabidalas of the Nursing will handle the ceremonial torch.
The first game of the opening day will be decided in a draw while the second game will be between last season’s champion team External Maintenance and first runner-up Physio Therapy.
The top two teams after the single round robin elimination will be on stand-by as waiting teams. Teams 3-6 will play a crossover quarterfinal games and the winners plus the waiting teams will advance to the semifinal round and will play a crossover system.
The final round will be a best-of-three series by the top two teams with the last two teams to play a knockout match for third and fourth place.
Regular games are to be played Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Helping Yabut run the tournament are Robert Tadeo, assistant commissioner; Arnie Sajor and Alvin Malapitan, Technical Affairs Committee officials; Lemuel Rafanan, league coordinator and treasurer; Rommel Caringal, Rene Jabian, Robert Mariwa and Danny Ilagan, committee members. Tournament Adviser is Lino Sabalboro.
The Filipino Confederation of Basketball Referees (FCBR) headed by Ernie Dela Cruz and Ed Tamayo will be in charge of the tournament officiating.
