JEDDAH: For the second straight year, ISA (Industrial Sports Association) has its annual basketball show hosted at the court of spanking new Modon (Industrial City Property Management) Industrial Plaza on the outskirts of Jeddah.
In festive atmosphere Friday the Modon Basketball Tournament 2016 got under way with Perfetto and Attieh Steel winning the opening games against Hempel Paints 74-68 and BRC 64-57 respectively.
Chief guest at the grand opening ceremony that preceded the games was Vice Consul Rodney Jonas L. Sumague of the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah.
The other VIP guests that graced the occasion were Modon officials Hitham Abu Mansour and Fahad Al Jihani, Ramli Haroon Saleh, manager of Saudi Modern Foods Factory, makers of Perfetto pasta and spaghetti, Mohamad Bayoumi, ISA consultant-adviser, friend of the Filipino community and recipient of the Presidential Banaag Award, and Enjaz Marketing Officer Aileen Agraviador.
President Mansour Eric Abrantes of the ISA Committee welcomed the teams and guests, and thanked them for the support of the sporting activity that goes a long way in helping promote a healthy lifestyle and battle homesickness among Industrial City workers including a large concentration of OFWs. He later assisted the vice consul in the ribbon cutting at the venue entrance.
Commissioner Rey Jordan Lofamia declared the tournament open.
In keeping with tradition a torch relay was held around the court and the award for Best Torch Bearer went to Mr. Mariano of Luna Milk. Best in Uniform and Best Mascots awardees were chosen by a panel of judges composed of Mark Vitales, Joseph Evangelista, Rod Ryan Cailes and Pablo Nesperos. The top award for Best in Uniform was won by Luna Milk. Goody Viagedor emceed the affair.
Emjay Malabanan grabbed the Best Player honors while leading Perfetto to victory with 24 points including 11 points in the third quarter when his team steadily pulled away.
Minoza, Laguyo and Melgar led the Hempel’s losing cause on 23, 20 and 14 points.
Bernardino who took over where Malabanan left off to score 10 points in the fourth quarter finished on 15 points. Ameer added 13 points and Andrade had 12.
Macatangay of Attieh Steel, which mounted a breakaway in the last quarter, was named Best Player in the second game, scoring 16 points to go with the 15 by Lavarez, 11 by dela Cruz and 9 by Nidoy.
Onte on 25 point was the only double-figure scorer at BRC.
Perfetto Pasta (Saudi Modern Foods Factory) is the major sponsor of the tournament with playing days Thursday and Friday starting at 6 p.m. and game officials from the Industrial Referees Officiating Group (IROG).
To run for about five months the league enjoys special support from Industrial City Dawah Office, Enjaz Banking Services, Hempel Paints, Pablo Nesperos, Al Haddaf Sportswear, Combibo Catering, Caravan Advertising and Arab News.
With Abrantes and Lofamia in ISA Committee that will run the event are Treasurer Egay Magnaye, Secretary Alot Villafuerte, Public Relations Officers Goody Viagedor/Pablo Nesperos and committee members Phip Estacio,Ramon Arches, Marlon Labasan, Dennis Bulactial, Jun Sunido, Abe De Guzman, Joel Abrantes, Eddie Boy and Toto Pamplona.
