7th Filipino basketball opens in Doha
DOHA: The premier Filipino basketball league in Qatar formally opened yesterday at the Al Arabi Sports Club drawing hundreds of basketball fans. Billed as the 7th Pinoy Basketball of Qatar (PIBAQ) Basketball Cup 2010 with Vodafone Qatar as its main sponsor, the tournament is regarded as much as bigger and more exciting as 16 teams will take part in Category B and six teams in Category A.
The Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Cresente Relacion graced the opening ceremony along with a representative from the Vodafone Qatar which was marked with an attractive display of different teams donning their colourful uniforms during the parade around club's hard court. Relacion has reiterated his call to his countryman to devote more of their time with sports like basketball.
The event also saw pretty Filipinas calling to shots to the much coveted Miss PIBAQ 2010 with QDVC LRT bet Nida Vitug crowned for the tilt and two other lasses from One Family Chowking Doha as best muse for Category A and Qatar United Travels as best muse for Category B.
What makes this tournament a truly come-on to basketball fans are the entry into the league of former basketball stars of the prestigious Philippine Basketball Association who were given another crack to play for different teams.
The former PBA stars have lost their fame to the Philippines league but were however given the chance to regain the glory with an offer for a decent work as long as they will pay for the teams that hired them back home. Among them are Nino Gelig who used to play for PBA's Talk N' Text team, Marvin Ortigera, Radel Mallari and Ruben Mendoza of the Sta. Lucia Realtors and Arnold Calo of San Miguel Beer.
Participating teams are defending champion Chowking-One Family, Rumaillah Group, Vodafone Qatar, Ali Cafe, Powerhorse Energy Drink and Qatar Kentz. The Category B are composed of AECOM Consultant, PDC Tamween, Qatalum, KBAS Contracting, Al Khor Community, Pampanga All Star, PISQ-Western Union, I Love Qatar.Net, Qatar United Travel, One Family Chowking Doha, Noel Mindanao, Combined Group Company,IMCO Engineering and QDVC LRT.
THE PENINSULA
Comments
Comment Guidelines: The SportsTG Network is made up of players, families and passionate sports followers like you who have a strong opinion about sport. That's great - we want you to have your say and share your thoughts with the world. However, we have a few rules that you must follow to keep it fun for all. Please don't be rude, abusive, swear or vilify others. Apart from some pretty serious sport sanctions, we also can ban you and report you if things get out of hand. So play fair and have fun, and thanks for your contribution.