Viva, NCAA, PBL lend hand to PSA concert

Include Viva Vintage, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) to the growing list of supporters to the Alay Sa Gintong Medalya, a fund-raising concert for national athletes.

Also, add the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) through its vice president Sung Chun Hong as the first among the national sports associations (NSAs) to pour in backing to the event set 8 p.m. of Aug. 9 at the PhilSports Arena (formerly Ultra) in Pasig City.

Viva Vintage boss Vic del Rosario has agreed to plug the Alay Sa Gintong Medalya concert during games of the Philippine Basketball Association, a support that is expected to boost information regarding the event organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) through its chairman, Eric Buhain. Viva Vintage’s support followed that of the PBA, which, according to commissioner Jun Bernardino, is also committing its backing to the event.

The NCAA, the oldest league in the country which is holding its 78th season this year, has also agreed to support the concert, which features the country’s top performers led by Gary Valenciano and Vina Morales.

Fr. Anscar Chupungco, 2002 NCAA president, and Fr. Bede Hechanova, both of host San Beda, committed the school league’s support to the concert.

The PBL, through commissioner Chino Trinidad and his deputy Tommy Ong, has also joined the bandwagon that is also primarily focused on boosting the morale of national athletes who see action in international competitions.

"We are turning ecstatic over the growing list of supporters for the Alay Sa Gintong Medalya," said Buhain. "And perhaps by now, we could foresee how great the moral support our athletes would get."

The concert would initially raise supplemental funds for national athletes competing in the 14th Asian Games South Korea is hosting in Busan from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14.