Photos: PIBAQ President PAT Cardio hands over the funds raised during the eight-week tournament to Filipino envoy HE Crescente Relacion at a cermeno held recently.

By Ailyn Agonia (Tribune News Network)

Pictures by: Ronnie Castro 

DOHA: The 2014 Ambassador Cup organised recently by the Pinoy Basketball of Qatar (PIBAQ) raised QR8,000 for the victims of supertyphoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) which devastated parts of the Philippines last year. 

PIBAQ President Pat Carido along with representatives of the sponsors of the tournament, handed over the funds raised by the project to the Philippine Ambassador to Qatar HE Crescente Relacion during the awards ceremony of the tournament. 

The 2014 Ambassador Cup was purposely organised by Pibaq as a tribute to Relacion, who will be ending his tenure in Qatar in December. It is being organised in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy in Qatar and the United Filipino Organisations in Qatar (UFOQ). 

The eight-week tournament, held from January 31 to March 21 at the Al Gharafa Training Gym, concluded on a high note recently.

The PIBAQ Youth Basketball Camp, which gives an opportunity to young Filipinos who are passionate about basketball, to learn from the veterans in the field, named Don Leoncio M Tabol as the edition's Most Valuable Player (MVP) while Russell Aedriane Estrope was honoured with a special award.

In the tournament's 40-Above Division, Yellow Team dominated over the White Team with the score 83-66 and Oscar Butial was named MVP and recipient of the Best Forward Award. Other awardees in the category were Lino Mora (Best Guard), Ghani Baldomero (Best Guard), Procolo Laureano (Best Forward) and Roberto Abarquez (Best Center).

The championship title in the Inter-Province Division was bagged by Pampanga's Pride over Palmeras-Manila Metrostars with the score 87-75. Team Mindoro L Arc En Ciel placed third, while Batangas Barako finished in the fourth place. 

Francis Albert Mercado was named MVP while Rodel Mallari was recognised with the MVP award in the final. The Mythical Five in the category included Eric Tamayo of Batangas Barako (Best Guard), Michael Paderes of Mindoro L Arc En Ciel (Best Guard), Sandie Limin of Metrostars (Best Forward), Mardie Limin of Metrostars (Best Forward) and Francis Mercado of Pampanga's Pride as Best Center. 

The awards ceremony was also graced by Philippine Embassy Doha Cultural Attache Richard Billedo, Assistant Marketing Manager of McDonald's Qatar Ronald B Arugay, Travelex Qatar Business Development Manager Shan Kamarudheen, Diana Jewellery & Watches Owner Operator Khaleel Haddad, Boracay Filipino Restaurant Owner Operator Wilson Galicia, Arabian Gulf Logistics Supplies (AGLS) Manager Remy Bustamante, James John of EzRemit and Rannie Tanchico of Balitang Q.