OFBL 3rd Conference off to rousing start

The Overseas Filipino Basketball League, arguably one of the fastest growing leagues in town, launched its third tournament on Friday at the Timeout Sports Academy gymnasium on Television Street, Ghulail District on the outskirts of Jeddah.
The much-anticipated OFBL 3rd Conference Evening Division kicked off in a fitting opening ceremony highlighted by the traditional marchpast of teams.
Twenty-seven teams spread out in three categories entered the tournament with a separate ongoing Friday Morning League. Bracketed in Inter-Company Bonafide are IBN Sina, Bupa Middle East, Inez, Zagzoog, Rabya, Hidada, Almarai, Al Majal, Al Jeraisy and Schindler. Teams in the Inter-Company Reinforced are Toyota, Unilever, Bambini, Magdalo BHBC, IBN Sina, Wasalak and Sajco, while the Above 40 entries are Toyota, Mahmoud Gharib, PSI, GCT, BHBC, Alien Team and Solid North.
In behalf of OFBL Chairman Boy Teves, Commissioner Rocky Gil, presided the ceremony. In his speech he expressed their gratitude for the undying support for the league, by sponsors, team managers, coaches and players. He stressed the important role these people played in helping out OFBL achieved its objectives. “We are all in this together, our success is your success because liga natin ‘to” said Gil adding his group plans to reach out to distressed OFWs needing assistance as part of its advocacy.
The owner of the league venue, Mohammed Bahrahim, and Mohamed Bayoumi, friend of the Filipino community and recipient of the prestigious Presidential Banaag Award, attended the event which was hosted by Willy Cartagena. Also, raffle draw prizes were given away on the tournament opening day.
The first trophies to go up for grabs were for Best in Uniform and Best Muse in each division. In Inter-Company Bonafide Best in Uniform trophy went to Inex and Best Muse to Hidada, Inter-Company Reinforced Best Uniform to Toyota and Best Muse to Mahmoud Gharib and in Above 40 Division Bambini bagged both Best in Uniform and Best Muse trophies.
In the opening games, Inex enjoyed a strong start in the Inter-Company Bonafide with a 68-48 rout of IBN Sina in the first game while Above 40 hopeful BHBC likewise scored a trouble-free 67-57 triumph over Bambini in the second game.
Angeles and Cayetano scored 24 and 22 points to lead Inex. Royero had 26 points, Castillo 8 and Bueno 6 for IBN Sina.
Caesinto and Bonion each scored 10 points for BHBC. — With input from Sheridon C. Lagon