Ahmad Ali Al Mawlawi (centre), Secretary General and Khamis Al Sheraim, Board member of Qatar Basketball Federation, opens the first match of the Subaru Cup 2012.
DOHA: Filipino basketball teams will be seen in action in between the games of the Qatar League of Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) starting on November 16 after an agreement was reached between QBF and Pinoy Basketball of Qatar (PIBAQ).
This was formally announced by Bombet Vitor, PIBAQ league manager, during the opening of Subaru Cup 2012 of PIBAQ over the weekend at the Al Gharrafa Training Gym where QBF officials graced the colourful event.
Vitor said QBF decided to include the PIBAQ games in between the Qatar League matches, which is composed of different popular local clubs to let Filipino fans witness the exciting action at the hard court of Al Gharrafa Stadium.
The five professional Division A teams of Subaru Cup league will play their games in between the two Qatar League games every Friday afternoon.
Vitor said this would be the best opportune time to level up the kind of play of Filipino basketball stars as the QBF, as the governing basketball body in Qatar, would closely watch them in the games.
Meanwhile, thousands of fans have trooped to the opening event to show their all-out support to the teams and players they idolised. The parade of different teams, five from Division A and another 23 from Division B, have added glitter and colour to the opening programme.
Other special guests from Qatar Basketball Federation Ahmad Ali Al Mawlawi, Secretary General and Khamis Al Sheraim, Board member and the sponsors including Firoz Myladan, Assistant General Manager for sales and marketing of McDonald’s Qatar and Allan Paul Paredes of Mannai Trading WLL, the official distributor Subaru cars attended the event.
McDonald’s Qatar distributed thousands of free breakfast meal tickets to the delight of the fans who came to witness the opening programme.
At the games, the defending champions survived a scary last minutes comeback of newcomer Jewel Advertising to win the game 82-77.
It was a revenge victory for their sorry loss to Power Horse Energy Drink in the opening match on October 12.
A newcomer Flamin’Go however pulled a big surprise to beat IMCO Engineering, 64-49, in the game at the Division B.
Flamin’Go started to pull away in the first quarter of the match and never looked back until the final whistle was blown.
THE PENINSULA
