The Tigers and Express hope to duplicate, if not surpass, Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas’ third place finish in the 21st Dubai International Basketball Championship last January.
The 2nd Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum International Basketball Tournament ends on Saturday, March 6.
Speaking highly of Philippine basketball, Naji Aljabri, CEO of New Generation Sport Marketing Event and organizer of the tournament, said he wants to test the mettle of his UAE National Team and Al Nasr Club against PBA teams.
Aljabri considers the PBA as one of the most organized and prestigious basketball leagues in the world next to NBA (National Basketball Association) and the Euro League.
“I want to bring the same professional experience and game intensity of the PBA in the UAE and also to provide entertainment to the Filipino expats who are known basketball fans," said Aljabri.
He said his teams are young but with huge potential, strong and determined to become the best in the Middle East and North Africa region.
UAE National team is composed of all local players while Al Nasr Club is led by American import Vincent Jones, who at 6-foot-11 is a dominant inside player, supported by Talal Salem, Talal, Musabah, Khalid Obaid, Ibrahim Obaid, Saleh Sultan and Salem Obaid.
Scheduled games are UAE National Team vs. Burger King (7 pm Dubai time; 11pm Manila time) followed by Al Nasr vs. Coca-Cola (9 pm Dubai time) on March 4 (Thursday); Al Nasr vs. UAE National Team (7 pm) and Burger King vs. Coca-Cola on March 5 (Friday); and UAE National Team vs. Coca Cola (7pm) and Al Nasr vs. Burger King (9 pm) on March 6 (Saturday).
The three-day tournament named after the deputy ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance of the UAE, will follow FIBA rules and a one-round elimination series format. Three foreign players can be included in the line-up but only two will be allowed to play at the same time.
Source: Author Unknown | GMANews.TV
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