Ex-PBA stars to root for RP bets

Filipino athletes who will compete in their respective events in the coming days will surely be glad to see former PBA superstars rooting for them and cheering them on from the sidelines.

The likes of Alvin Patrimonio, Allan Caidic and Samboy Lim have been tapped by giant food and beverage corporation San Miguel to try and boost the morale of the RP bets.

San Miguel topped the long list of private firms or individuals who helped raise more than P150 million that was spent for the training of the hundreds of Filipino athletes for the Games.

Art Cuevas and Serge Alombro of the SMC corporate communications office said six former PBA players were tapped to look after the 12 sports that the firm adopted for the SEA Games.

Patrimonio, a four-time MVP, will have wushu at the Emilio Aguinaldo College in Manila and karate at the Mandaue Coliseum in Cebu from under his tight watch.

Since action in both sports is scheduled from Nov. 27 to 29, Patrimonio will have to find time to watch both.

Caidic will take care of boxing at the La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod and baseball at the Rizal Memorial ballpark. Like Patrimonio, he will have to move from one venue to another.

Lim will be with the muay thai bets at the GSIS gym in Pasay City and the traditional boat racers at the La Mesa Dam in Quezon City.

Chito Loyzaga, now chairman of the Philippine Basketball League, will take care of athletics at the RMSC and lawn bowls/petanque in Angeles City.

Peter Martin will have to cover judo in Cebu City and wrestling at San Andres Gym in Manila while SMC executive Jane Llanes will visit the athletes in archery in Subic and dancesports in Cebu. — Abac Cordero