Jeddah United's Tariq Al-Etta shoots against three All Star players in Jeddah. Umar Abdul SalamJEDDAH — Ittihad beat Al-Rabeeah 50-39 in the opening game of the first Prince Talal Bin Monsour Bin Abdulaziz Ramadan Basketball Invitational Tournament here Tuesday. Up next was the Saudi Jr. National Team outscoring the SWAG team to score its first win. The night match saw Jeddah United take on the Filipino All Stars. From the tip-off the score went back and forth. The All Stars failed to hit a three in the first half, while JU hit seven, with five of them coming from Abdulaziz. Jeddah United was leading 42-28 at the half. The tables, however, turned with the All Stars hitting five threes and taking the lead in the third quarter. With good penetration and inside scoring JU managed to hold on to a small lead in the last five minutes and won by five points 67-62. The Filipino Basketball Referees in Jeddah group did an excellent job. The Hattrick Player of the Game went to Saudi National Team player Nassar Abdul Jalas, and Jeddah United's Saeed Mugraby. The Academy of Saudi Champions Time Out Basketball Gym, through Mohammed Khameis, is working to bring together Saudi Professional players and local teams and talent during Ramadan for the event. Mohammed Ba-Raheem, the academy's Executive Manager, is fulfilling a dream creating a top quality sports complex for the community's residents of all nationalities to enjoy. Hattrick and Luna foods are sponsoring the gifts and providing support. Among the 11 teams taking part in the tournament are: Ittihad, Wehdah, Saudi Jr. National Team, Filipino All Stars, Faisal Park, Al-Rabeeah, SWAG, Andalus Park, Jeddah United, and the Academy team. The games will start at 10:30 P.M. next week with an Old Timers (retired players) game and Wheelchair exhibition basketball game.
