PBA stars to grace SM mall tour today

Some of the PBA top draws, led by Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa and Romel Adducul and ace rookies Rich Alvarez of Shell and James Yap and Paul Artadi of Purefoods, mix it up with their fans when the league launches its summer sports bash at the SM Megamall’s Atrium today.

Joining Caguioa in the 5 p.m. rites, to be graced by PBA commissioner Noli Eala and PBA chairman Buddy Encarnado, are Alaska’s John Arigo and Joachim Thoss, Coca-Cola’s Poch Juinio and Jek Chia, FedEx’s Marc Pingris and Ranidel de Ocampo, Shell’s Tony dela Cruz, Sta. Lucia’s Kenneth Duremdes, Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino, and Jimmy Alapag and Harvey Carey of Talk n Text.

The PBA has lined up a series of sports activities the next three months at various SM malls, including one where the kids and the youth will be given a chance to interact with their PBA idols. Also on tap is an array of displays designed to give the PBA fans something to look forward to this summer season.

A team’s day actually kicks off the PBA day-long activities wherein two PBA squads – Purefoods and Alaska – will treat the fans in a kind of a workshop in the morning. Sta. Lucia takes its turn to mingle with the fans on Saturday.

The activity centers feature touring displays like hand and shoe prints, photo gallery, inflatable basketball hoop, PBA snap shots, Molten basketball museum, a half-court area and a PBA merchandise booth. These centers will be set up on two designated SM malls each week till May 9 to be spiced up by a rotation of visits by the PBA cagers and teams.

Displays have actually been set up last Monday at SM Bicutan and SM Megamall before they are moved to SM Fairview beginning March 22 till March 26. Three FedEX cagers, meanwhile, will grace the PBA activities in Iloilo on March 22-23 while Red Bull will strut their stuff in Cebu on March 24-25.

SM North EDSA takes its turn on March 27 to be graced by the Sta. Lucia players while SM Marilao will host the event beginning March 29 till April 4.

The summer bash, organized by the PBA Properties, Inc. and presented by JVC and Globe Telecom and sponsored by the PBA, Toby’s Sports, Purefoods, Accel, Air 21, Molten and Mail & More, takes a Lenten break from April 5-11.

Summer action resumes April 12 at SM Sucat with the San Miguel cagers gracing the event in SM Baguio. SM Manila joins the activities beginning April 17 while the SM Southmall hosts the event starting April 19.