Western Union Basketball Tournament began at the Sport Village here on Friday. The opening program began with the parade of the 24 teams followed by a welcome address by FBA president Gil Manese, a short talk from the representatives of the sponsors led by Mohammad A. Al-Turki who represented Sami Al-Raghi of Enjaz. Also present were Lowell Plameras and Jess Cerbito who acted on behalf of Ameed Hamdan, the country manager of Western Union Money Transfer in Saudi Arabia. Also around to grace the occasion were David Chua, who represented Elsie Chua of CDC Holdings (Quadrillon Sales, Inc.). Other guests included Labatt Bulyok S. Nilong of POLO, Jeddah, Rodolfo Menes and Voltaire Flores of Pueblo De Oro Development Corporation, Amanat Ali, Oufi and Ali Kalathil of Enjaz and a number of community leaders. Paul Antiporda was the master emcee. In the opening match between Al-Majal Servicemasters routed Saudi Oger Jeddah 107- 87. Saudi Archirodon Shoaiba won 75-73 over Sharbatly Corporation. Dr. Erfan Bagedo Hospital bowed to Saudi Oger Rabigh 92-78. CVD Globetrotter won over CMD B by a nig margin, 82-56. CMD United B won over PMD Reload, 71-68. Moevenpick Al-Nawras Resort won over Alhamrani (Fuchs) in a high scoring game 104-92. In the final game, Hanco Maintenance took it just easy by walloping the well behave team of coach Rudy Noceja 72-58. Principally sponsored by Enjaz and Western Union Money Transfer and organized by the Filipino Basketball Association, the games are held every Friday from 10:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. continuously. The teams that paraded were: Al-Majal Servicemasters led by Ken Bautista, Saudi Archirodon Shoaiba Teams A & B of Vidod Kumar and Willie Corpuz, Saudi Oger Jeddah, Saudi Oger Rabigh led by Mario Basilio, Saudi Binladen Group-RPD of Ruel Manarang, Sharbatly Corporation of Alex Torremania, AUC-Fuchs of Marwel Blas, CTS & SMP of Ted Fabian and Rainer Panlilio, Danube Hypermarket of Ronnie Llave, Dr. Erfan Bagedo Hospital of David Leyva, Moevenpick & Al-Nawras Resort of Ruel Bristol, Al-Muhaidib contracting Co. of Robert De Guzman and Rodolfo Noceja, Fluor Arabia of Lynn Epps and Elmer Abadin, Gulf Express of Usman Esmail, Rey Mariano and Geri Carredo, Habitat Hotel-Lipton Tea of Muthadz Latif, Hanco Maintenance of Edgar Ainza, John Lagrimas and Jess Manlapaz and Islamic Development Bank of Robert Celis. __
