10th PIBAQ-McDonald's Cup 2011, Press Conference
DOHA: The Pinoy Basketbol-Qatar (PIBAQ) ,the premier basketball league among thousands of Filipinos here, is already raring to go for its bigger and more exciting conference this year set to formally open on July 8 at Al Gharafa Sports Club Annex Stadium.
A total of 25 teams, 21 from Class B and four from Class A divisions, will see action for the 2011 McDonalds Basketball Cup expected to endure until the end of this year for the eliminations, semifinals and championship rounds separately for both divisions.
At the press conference yesterday, McDonald’s Qatar has also announced it will extend its full support for the official portal of PIBAQ that will be launched in a month’s time.
“Our support for Filipino basketball here doesn’t stop in the games only but to any other efforts of PIBAQ to spread out their excellence in the game,” said Firoz Myladan, Assistant General Manager-Marketing, McDonald’s Qatar.
Team managers attending the event were also briefed of the league’s new rules based on International Basketball Federation (FIBA) that will be followed throughout the duration of the tournament.
The growing popularity of the annual PIBAQ league has drawn more teams coming from different Filipino community groups and companies ready to slug it out to gain prestige and honours for the coveted championship crowns.
Five more teams for the Division B have actually signed up for this conference while the Division A maintained its stature of four teams but an array of professional players taller than six feet and who have been playing for the Philippine Basketball Association and other respected national basketball leagues back home.
PIBAQ officials have decided to set a soft launch last Friday to allow thousands of Filipino basketball fans watch in preview how the teams especially the new ones will fare in the upcoming games.
The soft launch last Friday was also the opportune time especially to the new teams get more acquainted with standard rules set by FIBA which will be followed by PIBAQ during the duration of the Friday games.
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