PBA rivals Mark Caguioa, Jimmy Alapag and Asi Taulava will lead a delegation from the league that will leave for Tacloban City on Friday to bring aid to typhoon victims.
Also joining the trip under the league's 'Alagang PBA' program are Ginebra's LA Tenorio and Danny Seigle as well as Commissioner Chito Salud, board chairman Mon Segismundo and board member Eric Arejola.
Alapag and Seigle trace their roots to Leyte.
The group will be bringing relief goods and cash donation to be turned over to regular Leyte PBA games organizer Kenneth Uy on top of the initial P1-million donation the league had pledged to the relief efforts.
They Said It!
“This is our way of showing support to our brothers who were devastated by Yolanda. And the PBA is on it for a long term, not just one time." - PBA commissioner Chito Salud
“This is our way of showing support to our brothers who were devastated by Yolanda. And the PBA is on it for a long term, not just one time,” said Salud.
“Babalik kami ng babalik sa mga nasalantang lugar. We’ll visit Ormoc, Samar, Bohol and even Cebu,” Salud added.
On top of relief goods and cash donation, the PBA will also be bringing six portable rims and boards, and six dozen basketballs - a gesture inspired by a photo of kids playing basketball in a makeshift court amid the ruins in Western Samar that went viral.
“The background of this was the group of kids photographed playing basketball in a makeshift court amidst the ruins and debris in Western Samar,” said Salud.
PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial said the league is now looking for the three kids, in the hope of bringing them to Leyte to meet with their cage idols.
The PBA goods, including those donated by Toby’s Sports, Molten and Excite Inc. of Gelo Serrano, are now on their way to Tacloban, being airlifted with the help of Air Asia and Air21.
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