DOHA EXPATRIATE Filipino basketball players from Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar will battle it out on the hard court during the 4th GCC All-Filipino Club Championship 2013 to be held at the Al Gharafa Sports Club on April 18 and 19.

The much-awaited tournament for Filipino basketball enthusiasts across the Middle East was last held in Dubai in May 1999. It was then called the Philippine Friendship Games.

Fourteen years later, it is Qatar’s turn to host the event thanks to the initiative of the Pinoy Basketball of Qatar (PIBAQ), the official Filipino basketball organisation in the country which functions under the umbrella of Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF).

Qatar Falcons, Bahrain Stallions, Dubai’s D’Heat and Abu Dhabi Kings will see action during the two-day tourney. The participating teams are comprised of former players of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), former star players from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) plus big names in other leagues such as the commercial semiprofessional Philippine Basketball League (PBL).

“PIBAQ, under the umbrella of QBF, has already won strong public support since its inception in 2005. This is the first time we will be hosting the tournament, which has a solid following among the Filipino workers in the Middle East. The tournament is one of the most prestigious basketball leagues in the region. Players who used to be at the top of the Philippine basketball scene before they decided to pursue a career in this part of the world participate in the event. We believe this will be an interesting form of entertainment for Filipinos in Qatar and the region which consider basketball a passion and a way of life,” PIBAQ President Pat Carido said.

To revive the Middle East league, Carido personally sought approval of the Philippine Federation through its deputy executive director Bernardo Atienza and former PBA commissioner Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios. The event, which will abide by the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) rules, was launched in Dubai in February.

The tournament will open with a game between Dubai and Bahrain, at 10am followed by a showdown between Qatar and Abu Dhabi at 12noon on April 18. Admission to the event is free.

Power Horse and McDonalds Restaurants are the sponsors while Karwa Mowasalat, Travalex (Official Money Transfer), Doha Corps Executive Hotel, Vista Land Properties, Qatar National Printing Press and Control-P Advertising are the co-sponsors.

PIBAQ is among the recognised organisations of the Philippine Embassy in Qatar and an overseas affiliated member of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (Basketball Federation of the Philippines).

It has been organising the biggest Filipino basketball events in the country and has even brought superstars of the Philippine basketball to Doha. It has also successfully hosted tournaments to raise funds for charity.