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Sunday, September 30, 2012

PBA legends to visit Saudi for goodwill games



October 1, 2012 9:33am
Filipino basketball fans in Saudi Arabia may have something to look forward to during the Hajj holidays - a series of goodwill games by Philippine Basketball Legends from October 24 to November 2.

The PBA Legends will perform in exhibition games in Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh during their stint in the Kingdom, according to a report on Arab News.

Among the PBA legends expected to be in the 12-member Legends lineup are:

- PBA Legends USA Foundation chairman Abe King Jr.
- US-based player Alejo "Ponky" Alolor
- Marlou Aquino
- Edward Joseph Feihl
- Bonel Balingit
- Rodney Santos
- Rene "Bong" Hawkins Jr.
- Gherome Ejercito
- Gerald Esplana
- Vince Hizon
- Bal David Jr.
- Manuel "Noli" Locsin.

Joining the Philippine delegation is Ruffy Ignacio, PBA Legends USA Foundation secretary-general.

Select local teams from Saudi Arabia will participate in what is being touted as the biggest basketball event organized by Coordinations Est. Company in cooperation with various regional Filipino basketball organizations, including:

- Pilipino Basketball Association (PBA) in Dammam
- Overseas Filipino Basketball League (OFBL) in Jeddah
- Philippine Arabia Basketball Association (PABA) in Riyadh.

Arab News quoted Saudi-based organizers as saying the project has the support of Prince Nawaf bin Faisal, president of General Presidency of Youth Welfare.

It added that the goodwill games seek to boost the ties between the Kingdom and the Philippines.

The program is under the overall leadership of Fahad Ibrahim Al Sekaity and Abdul Aziz Virgilio “Jawo” Dizon, a veteran basketball organizer in the Kingdom who said this event has been 10 years in the making.

"Unknown to many in the home country Philippines and abroad, but very popular in Saudi Arabia, the Filipino basketball communities in Saudi Arabia are a well-knit group of dedicated and hardworking kababayans who advance the twin cause of basketball and fellowship in that part of the world," Arab News said.

The organizations plan to provide scholarship grants to needy Filipino students in the Philippines, and to conduct medical-dental missions in coordination with the PBA Legends Foundation. - AMD, GMA News

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