JEDDAH, 7 March 2003 — Kadatuan P. Usop, the consul general of the Philippines attended the championship games and awarding ceremony of the 1st Samsung — 15th FBA Basketball Tournament in at Sheraton Compound Basketball Court in Jeddah. FBA President Gil Manese welcomed the chief guest.
Thousand basketball aficionados witnessed the match after hearing the message delivered by the consul general. The guest of honor emphasized the significance of the approval of the Absentee Voting Bill which was passed recently by both houses of congress and finally signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo into law and will take effect in the next election of 2004.
At the same time, he acknowledged the efforts exerted by the officers and members of the Filipino Basketball Association (FBA) headed by Gil Manese (president), Hernan Huerto (VP & commissioner), Lito Martin (tournament chairman), Lando Santelices, Raymond Caleon, Jr. and Jimmy Narciso.
Manese thanked all the guests including welfare officer Mustapha Glang of the OWWA who also expressed his appreciation to the organizing committee for the success of the event, POLO officer Mike Ali, Essam Abbas & Ehab Muhammad of the United Matbouli Group (Samsung Electronics), prominent community leaders headed by Ben Garcia (KASAPI Congress chair), Boy Cornejo (AFTPA), Cesar Quillendrino (ASTEC), Bert Nulud of CMS Int’l, Anwar Hafez of SBG-RPD, Fahad Al-Khuteifi of Al-Tayar Plastic Co., Jun Astilla of Junastar Cargo Services, Bebot Budlong of WRJ Cargo and Rudy Dianalan (KASAPI vice chair). Also present were Mike Maulana, Teng and Edwin Tullah and other leaders from the Southern part of the Philippines who all helped maintained peace & order.
The awarding ceremony was preceded by the games between SBG-RPD and Al-Majal Service Master for the third and fourth slots which was won by SBG-RPD mentored and managed by Doming Maynigo and Anwar Hafez respectively. The final game between Coach Edagar Ainza’s Hanco Maintenance & El Khereiji (Junastar Cargo Services) of Jun Astilla & Boy Mangilin which was won by Hanco Maintenance (their first ever championship title in any FBA tournament.) Team Manager Douglas Brown was happy and satisfied with the result of the game. At last, my boys made it, he remarked. “This time it’s real,” the team proudly said after the game. The organizing committee together with representatives of the principal sponsor, United Matbouli Group (Samsung Electronics) Essam Abbas and Ehab Muhammad awarded the huge trophies, nice plaques of appreciation, medals, Giordano Fashions gift packs and three units of Samsung 14-inch TV sets from the tournament sponsors.
The awardees: Inter-Company Bona fide Group A (Strong Team) — Champion Team (Al-Tayar Plastic Co.), Hafil Transport. Mythical Five (Best Guards) Jun Mabarit & Nap Solis, (Best Forward) Aaron Mayo and April Mabarit,. (Best Center) Jun Hernandez, (Best Coach) Carlo Minoza and Most Valuable Player — MVP (April Mabarit) who received a 14” Samsung TV set. Inter-Company Bona fide (Group B) — Champion Team — Hanco Maintenance, 1st Runner-Up Team — Junastar Cargo (EKC), 2nd Runner-Up — SBG-RPD and 3rd Runner-Up — Al-Majal Service Master. 1st Mythical Five — (Best Guard) Allan Latigo & Ronald Batarao, (Best Forward) Richie Estrada & Choy Havana, (Best Center) Joseph Depante, (Best Coach) Edgar Ainza and (MVP). Richie Estrada who also received a 14 “ Samsung TV set. 2nd Mythical Five — (Best Guard) Vince Delos Reyes & Bernie Dollendo, (Best Forward) Anthony Manguera & Dondee Nabus, (Best Center) Ninio Ramos. Rookie. Rookie of the year (Jun Hernandez).
