A team including Bahraini basketball legends will be playing in one of the preliminary contests in the 9th Bahrain-Philippines Goodwill Basketball Games, taking place on January 3 and 4 at Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam.
Renowned former players such as Hussain Ali, Ebrahim Khabaaz, Khalil Qahari and Hamad Ali Hussain are all members of The Hooperz Team.
The line-up also includes senior men’s national team assistant coach Rayyan Mahmood, as well as young basketball enthusiasts Ali Alshawik, Awab Ebrahim, Abdulhussain Dadi, Ahmed Dadi and former Muharraq Club player Hamed Almahari. The Hooperz Team is coached by veteran Bahraini tactician Najah Melaad.
They will be playing against local Filipino outfit Sany. Their game will be on Thursday at 5.30pm as the lone fixture of the preliminary programme that evening. It will be followed at 7.30pm by the visiting Rain or Shine Elasto Painters from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) going head to head with reigning national champions Manama Club.
Another two games are part of the preliminary schedule on Friday. At 4pm, Bahrain’s women’s national team will be playing local Filipino side, the PhiBah Warriors.
Then, at 5.30pm, a pair of local Filipino men’s teams will be battling in the championship game of the Inter-Barangay League. Set to face off for the title are Barangay Muharraq and Barangay Mahooz.
That will be followed at 7.30pm by the Elasto Painters taking the hardwood for a second game, this time against perennial title contenders Muharraq Club.
Aside from all the basketball action, there will also be colourful sideline entertainment and chances to win valuable prizes for all those in attendance.
General Admission tickets will be available at the gate at BD3 apiece, per day. For limited VIP tickets, call 34414926 or 33934798.
Organised
The 9th Bahrain-Philippines Goodwill Basketball Games 2019 is being organised by The Hooperz Sport Events in cooperation with members of the Filipino community, the Bahrain Basketball Association and Nestlé Bahrain Trading W.L.L. The event is being held under the patronage of BBA President, His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.
The Goodwill Games is powered by Houras Services and Consultants, Amour de Paris Perfumes, Filinvest, UAE Exchange and Forex Cargo. It is supported by FCBG, Strictly Social.BH, BonChon, David’s Stir Fry Crazy, Jollibee, Bahay Kubo, Filipino-American Association, The K Hotel, Arwa, Trans World Travel, Print Mania, Bahrain International Karting Circuit and Track Top Adventure.