“Ghassan El Raahi, Manager of Power Horse Energy Drink in Qatar, McDonald’s Qatar Marketing Manager Ronald Arugay and Vista Land Marketing Exequil Tunay for tossing the ball to mark the opening of the league”.

By Chris Panganiban                    Pics by Ronnie Castro

 

DOHA:The premiere Filipino hoops league, Pinoy Basketball of Qatar (Pibaq), opens its new season dubbed “ Power Horse Cup 2013” with a big bang at the Al Gharafa Multi-Purpose Training Gym over the weekend with colourful parade of 16 participating teams that will slug out to the prized championships in the two divisions.

Power Horse Energy Drink Qatar manager Ghassan El Raahi graced the opening rites as honorary guest to inspire the different teams, which practically build up to a stronger array of players as the competition among them becomes tougher this season.

Power Horse offered to become the main sponsor of this season’s tournament buoyed by their impressive capture of the coveted crown in the Division 1 in the last season’s Subaru Cup after several tries in the past years.

Ronald Arugay, marketing manager of McDonald’s Qatar, a regular sponsor and Exequil Tunay of Vista Land Marketing, a new sponsor, also graced the big event. “We will continue to fully support PIBAQ just as we did to other popular sporting events in Qatar,” said Arugay in his message.

As an added treat for the opening rites, the pretty lass of QDVC LRT was chosen by the VIP guests as “Best Muse” while Dukhan Ballers, last year’s Division 2 champions, was accorded with “Best in Uniform”.

Pibaq officials however announced they will award QAFAC team for “Best in Uniform” under the officials selection category. The team will receive the plaque during the games next Friday.

Basketball fans were greeted with an exciting game to their great delight when QDVC LRT squeaked out a come-from-behind victory over defending champion Dukhan Ballers ,69-67. QDVC’s main man Kimbo Proceso unleashed a difficult shot at the rainbow territory with 10 seconds left to seal the win.

Dukhan Ballers tried to equalize the game with two seconds left but QDVC applied tough pressure defense that prevented a basket.

“At least, we have get even to them,” said QDVC manager Eric Rabulan referring to their heartbreaking loss to Dukhan Ballers in the quarterfinals last season that foiled their hopes to enter into the final 4 for the semifinal rounds.

Other game results: Stars-Botak won over The Diplomatic Club, 76-54; One Family-Office System over Unibeton, 84-73, Ali café over Al Gassar, 54-47 and IMCO Engineering over KBAS Contracting, 66-61.