PIBAQ Through the years

AS THE years passed, the intensity continues. And for every tournament conference, teams are getting better and made the games highly competitive. This is all about the inspiring story of Pinoy Basketball of Qatar or simply PIBAQ, already a by-word among Filipino basketball enthusiasts in Qatar.

In the last six years of its existence, action at the PIBAQ games continued to heat up into the higher level of energy. Every team that would join the fray has only one thing in mind: To go for the elite semi-finalists round and keep their fingers crossed that they would get a crack to the coveted championship round.

It all started with a strong desire among a group of Filipino basketball enthusiasts to establish a league that will truly promote sportsmanship, unity and camaraderie to a growing number of Filipino expatriates in Qatar.

Die-hard basketball fanatics as they are, the group felt the urgent need to build the league to make it entirely different with a common goal in mind: It would not just be a tournament to suffice many others crave for the love of such sports, but a league, like no other, that would truly open wide opportunities to those who have basketball talent and skills here and back home.

The red-letter day came. It was one fine fateful day of November 17, 2005. The groups led by PAT Carido & Bombet Vitor were raring to go and agreed to formally establish the league. They broached the idea of naming the league as PIBAQ.

Not only that.

They made a bigger commitment among themselves that they will hold a tournament not for just regular sporting event sake, but to generate funds to help other countrymen who are in dire need even in small ways as they can.

Since there was no turning back for everyone, finally PIBAQ was born.

Officials of Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) were glad and in fact were impressed. It did not take long enough for QBF Assistant General Manager Rashid Al Abdulla to recognize PIBAQ under their wings. Under QBF’s tutelage, PIBAQ sets new ground rules and by-laws for its future tournaments to provide the Filipino community especially basketball enthusiasts a more exciting and a brand new basketball games in Qatar.

The first ever PIBAQ conference was inaugurated on March 10, 2006.Because of its noble ends, the First Conference was drawn by a groundswell of support particularly from the Philippine Embassy, Montanara Philippines, Ground Zero Philippines, Vigor Power Energy Drink, TFC, Mediacom International and McDonald’s Qatar. As a gesture of goodwill, a charitable act to extend fund donation to Bantay Bata 163 of Philippine’s major TV network ABS-CBN, was indeed a great achievement of the maiden tournament. During the mid-season break,

PIBAQ also supported the Philippine Team for the Al Emadi International Basketball Friendship Game, Interclub’s Friendship Game.

PIBAQ also conducted basketball clinic for young boys aged 16-years old below regardless of nationality, by a professional and qualified trainers from the Philippines who has attained highest tournament league in the Philippines. The Second Conference was held on October 10, 2006 until April 4, 2007 followed by a Friendship Game of GMA 7 Pinoy TV-All Star Basketball Exhibition on April 27, 2007. Part of the proceeds from the 2nd Conference Vigor Power Energy Drink Championship Cup was given to a distressed OFW seeking refuge at the Philippine Embassy Doha.

The outpouring of support kept coming in not only from the Filipino basketball patrons but from other communities in Qatar as well. PIBAQ’s sincerity to be of help to everyone in Qatar was truly a blessing. The support during the 3rd Al Emadi Enterprises Basketball Championship Cup came aplenty that PIBAQ raised a total of QR 25,000 for another charity effort. As the conference concluded on January 11, 2008, PIBAQ officials handed down the donation to Qatar Society Rehabilitation & Special Needs & Asia’s Rehabilitation aside from free plane tickets to Manila awarded to two lucky Filipino expatriates. "It was once again shown that Filipino charity is everywhere in the globe and always willing to lend a helping hand to the less fortunate in the society regardless of nationality, color and race." said PIBAQ President Pat Carido.

Fun and excitement electrified more thousands of Filipino basketball aficionados as QBF again sponsored a friendship game displayed by UAAP 2007 champions in cooperation of PIBAQ — The De La Salle Green Archers—during the Emir Championship Cup on April 18, 19 and 20, 2008. It doesn’t end there since another follow up exhibition games a few weeks later when fans were entertained by GMA-7 All Star Basketball team. A few months later on July 11, the 4th PIBAQ Basketball Tournament Cup was opened and ended until February 21, 2009.

The year 2008 also saw fruitful endeavors for the league when it invited three big PBA teams to play in Qatar in working sponsorship with Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) to the amazement of the basketball fans who came in droves at Gymnasiums just to watch their adored PBA idols. Every PBA friendship game had filled the gyms even up to the rafters, which is a clear indication that Filipinos are ever always rabid basketball aficionados. On August 25 and 26, Sta. Lucia Realtors Champion of 2008 PBA All Filipino Conference came, on September 11, 12 and 13, the PureFoods Tender Juicy Giants and finally on September 18, 19 and 20, was the turn of San Miguel - Magnolia Beverage Masters.

More action came last year starting with the PBA Legends led by coach Bogs Adornado followed by the 21st FIBA Asian Champions Cup with Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas joining the 12-nation tournament and ended with the opportunity for the PBA's Talk 'N Text to play with tough teams in the Middle East and Europe including Kazakhstan, Jordan and Qatar.

The year 2012, the rising PBA Team Meralco Bolts wowed the Filipino fans when they played against the QBF's Qatar Army and the all star selection of PIBAQ. Also the Western Union Cup from March 2 to July 6, 2012 with 24 teams.

Currently, PIBAQ is on the 12th Season of the SUBARU CUP 2012 held at the Al Gharafa Sports Club, Training Gym every Friday from 9:00 to 3:00 Pm.