The growing appeal and popularity of Friday morning league was again highlighted at the opening over the weekend of the OFBL 6th Conference at Timeout Sports Academy gymnasium on Television Street, Ghulail District on the outskirts of Jeddah.

For this new conference 23 teams entered underscoring the fact that morning basketball games have developed their own market and will be here to stay. There will be three championships up for grabs in the OFBL Friday Morning Division a follows: Non-Rated A, Non-Rated B and Non-Rated C.

The traditional parade of teams highlighted the procedural opening ceremony that started at 7:30 a.m., presided by OFBL Commissioner Rocky Gil.

The first trophies awarded were for Best in Uniform and Best Muse: Non-Rated A — O. B. S. Best in Uniform, REDTAG Best Muse; Non-Rated B — Nesma Holding Best in Uniform, Saja Pharmaceuticals Best Muse; Non-Rated C — Westside Best in Uniform, Axal Best Muse.

Saja Pharma doubled its joy on the day, suiting up for the second game and winning against Nesma Holding 70-67 in Non-Rated B Division.

Sumikiab scored 22 points, Timzon added 16 and Abella 15 points to help Saja score its first victory in this tournament that precedes the evening division which opens Aug. 22. According to Gil, 40 teams have so far registered and entries are still being accepted in the centerpiece five-division tournament. Interested teams may contact Gil at 054-269-8619 for further details.

Castillo led Nesma with 21 points. De Leon contributed 16 points.

In the other opening day game, Subway impressed with a convincing 95-73 victory over Axal.

Subway was simply the better team in the first game, getting 26 points from Cabrera, 25 from Bacarat and 10 from Razon. Ararao had 11 points and Agito 12 for Axal.

Reza Hygiene is the major sponsor of the tournament with Al Zugbi Sports as the official outfitter. Boy Teves chairs OFBL with Allan Musa as vice-chairman and Rimar Baluyot as secretary. The Basketball Officials Group (BOG) of Jun Lansang handles the tournament officiating.