DOHA: Filipino basketball legend Allan Caidic attended the opening of the Ambassador’s Cup 2015, organised by Pinoy Basketball of Qatar (Pibaq), recently.
Caidic, who is regarded in the Philippines as one of the greatest shooters of the game — earning him the nickname ‘Triggerman’, was greeted by a huge crowd at the QBF Al Gharafa Training Gym here.
Hundreds came to see him, many of them were avid followers of the Filipino basketball star in his heydays in the 90s, and were eager to hear him speak.
He hailed overseas Filipino workers as modern heroes who sacrificed a lot to make better lives for their families back home, saying that his coming here to meet them would at least make them smile and relieve their homesickness a little.
The outgoing Philippine Ambassador to Qatar, Crescente Relacion, also came to attend the event.
Young basketball aficionados went out of their way to watch the other highlights of the event, which was the championship match between QPalz Ooredo and PCY2 Travelex for the coveted Under-18 Season 1 category title.
QPalz prevailed to capture the crown while Dukhan Ballers gained third place in the other match against Young CEG International.
At least 32 teams will slug it out this season in three different divisions. Six teams are participating in Division B, 18 teams with nine for each bracket are in Division C and eight teams are taking part in the 40 Elite Division — a tournament for Filipinos aged 40 years and above.
Sham Kamarudheen, business manager of Travelex Money Exchange, said their company did not just sponsor PIBAQ for business interests but also wanted to return the favour to the whole Filipino community for supporting them. PIBAQ thanked the sponsors of this year’s tournament, including OOREDOO, Travelex Exchange I-REMIT, Power Horse Energy Drink, McDonald’s Qatar Family Restaurants, DIANA Jewellery &Watches, Boracay Filipino Restaurant, Plaza Inn Hotel, Skyfreight Forwarders and Botak Philippines.
It also thanked the Filipino Musicians Association of Qatar and Balitang Q for their support.
THE PENINSULA
