Aspiring future Filipino basketball stars

 

 

 

 

 

DOHA: Aspiring future Filipino basketball stars aged 12 to 14 from visiting Saudi Arabia and host Qatar show off their wares in the hard court in two friendly matches in the Under 12 and Under 14 categories highlighted the opening of the Nissan Cup 2016- 21st Season of the Pinoy Basketball of Qatar (PIBAQ) at the Al Gharafa Training Gym over the weekend.
 
Saudi’s White Carmel Youth Club triumped over Qatar Junior Falcons, 65-51, in the Under 12 Category while the host team reciprocated the visitors in the Under-14 Category with a convincing win, 70-50, in the GCC All-Filipino Cup Friendship Games to mark the start of the action in the much anticipated tournament.
 
The different teams will slug it out in  the tournament are the Premiere Division, Aspirants Division, 14 Under Division and 17-Under Division where stakes are high as they cruised their way from the eliminations up to the championship rounds.
 
Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Company WLL, official distributor of Nissan Cars in Qatar, serves as the main sponsor of the tournament supported by the Qatar Basketball Federation in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy in Qatar and the United Filipino Organization Qatar (UFOQ).
 
McDonald’s Qatar-Family Restaurants is presenter of the tournament while DIANA Jewellery and Watches served as major sponsor.
 
Pat Carido, PIBAQ president, the league, now on its 11th year of fruitful existence, has already reached the milestone by reaching out to every nook and corner of the large Filipino community in this host country which have been exemplified by some other Filipino basketball leagues.
 
“We assure that there will be more activities alongside the regular Friday games that will continue to develop the skills of aspiring young Filipino kids through our year-long basketball training camp,” Carido said.
 
Gracing the colourful opening program as guest of honor was Cultural Attache John Jiao whose presence encouraged the different ball clubs to be at their best when the games formally started.
 
Participants of the tournament include KBAS Batangas - Depending Champions, Lucky Seven, Light Scribe, Monte Vista De Caramoan and 3 Stars & A Sun in the Premiere Division;  Pampanga Villa De Bacolor, GGBAI Guardians, 3 Stars & A Sun, Graphitees AG Qatar, Happy Journey Travel, Defending champions JIREH Eagle and DW Ballers in the Aspirants Division.
 
In the Under 14-Under and 17-Under Divisions the teams include the Green Team  led by Coach Francis Albert Mercado, the Red Team headed by Coach Ferdinan Rodriguez, the Blue Team led by Coach Willy Layag and the Yellow Team led by Coach Jojo Longalong.

 




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