24 July 2013 – The officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy, Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), led by Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz, attended last July 14 the opening ceremony of the Philippine Basketball League in Lebanon (PhilBall) 7th Iremit Cup, an annual basketball and volleyball tournament organized by the PhilBall.
PhilBall is an organization composed of the different Filipino community associations in Lebanon. This basketball and volleyball tournament, the biggest Filipino community sports event in Lebanon, is now in its 14th year.
The Sunday-only basketball and volleyball games are being held from July 14 up to the first Sunday of October 2013, at the Michel El-Murr Stadium in Jdeideh (north of Beirut).
Eleven (11) teams are competing for the men’s basketball, namely: Bakod, RP Eagles, Chopsticks, Filipino Community Association (FCA), Western Visayas Association in Lebanon (WEVAL), Filipino Investment Association (FIVA), Manila Samafil, Filipino Workers Association in Metn (FILWAM), Solid Brothers, Rockers, and Mistah. There are also eleven (11) teams for the women’s volleyball namely: Bakod, RP Eagles, FCA, WEVAL, FIVA, Manila Samafil, FILWAM, Solid Brothers, Rockers, Mistah, and LUVZIMINDA.
The awards given during the opening ceremony were for Best Muse, Best in Uniform (basketball and volleyball) and Best Cheering Squad.
In her inspirational remarks, Ambassador Ruiz commended the leaders of the Filipino community organizations comprising PhilBall for once again bringing together the Filipino workers in Lebanon through this sports activity. She urged the teams and their supporters to promote camaraderie and goodwill and to always cooperate with one another in the true Bayanihan spirit. END