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Hong Kong shipping community bonds on the football pitch

Hong Kong shipping community bonds on the football pitch
The fourth edition of the Pacific Basin Soccer Sixes came back better than ever this year with a full complement of 16 teams battling it out at the Hong Kong Football Club on a scorching hot Friday evening.

After just over four hours of fast and furious and sometimes heated competition, the team from Pacific Basin Shipping successfully defended the title with a hard-fought win over Hongkong United Dockyards (HUD) in the final. Meanwhile in the Plate final, just a solitary goal against the run of play edged Ince & Co out in their match against Spartak P&I.

The evening concluded with a dinner for all the teams where the drinks flowed freely to cool down the thirsty players as they swopped stories about the big missses and the goals that "should have been". Apart from the winners, various prizes were also awarded for Best Cheerleading Team, which went to HUD, while unsurprisingly the top scorer award also went to Pacific Basin.

The informal setting and the format of the event which enables widespread participation and interaction were highlighted by event sponsors Pacific Basin Shipping. "We love that Hong Kong is such a melting pot and this is intensified in the shipping community," said a spokesman.

Remarking that the community normally tends to see each other in much more formal situations during work events, he added that Pacific Basin saw the event as a way to give back to the community with an event where everyone can enjoy healthy outdoor activities while meeting up outside of office hours.

Organisers Young Professionals Shipping Network added after the conclusion of yet another successful event that they may consider expanding the format to a half-day event and extending invitations to include mainland China teams as well as others from around the region.

TAGS: Hong Kong