PBA cagers bring cheers to barangay children

MANILA, Philippines - The Barangay Ginebra team together with a number of other star players accompanied Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Sonny Barrios in conducting the latest in the league’s series of outreach programs.

The latest beneficiaries of the PBA program were some 300 children and parents from the Gawad Kalinga community in Barangay Nangka, Marikina City.

Present during the event Barrios himself personally supervised were Kings team manager Samboy Lim and players Ronald Tubid, Rico Villanueva, Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand, as well as Rain or Shine stalwarts Gabe Norwood and Sol Mercado, Beau Belga and the Yees of Burger King – Richard and Mark – and Talk ‘NText’s Jimmy Alapag, Ali Peek and Jared Dillinger.

A warm reception welcomed the PBA entourage upon its arrival at the basketball gym of the community.

“The PBA family is truly thankful to the fans. They’re the reason why the league has remained strong through all these years. And this outreach program is our own little way of giving back to the community,” said Barrios, who has always seen to it that charity causes are part of the program of his commissionership.

“The office of the commissioner also wants to thank the Board of Governors for their all out support in this project,” said Barrios.

Villanueva, the Ginebra center out of Ateneo de Manila, started the ball rolling by showing his wares in story telling, reading books on fairy tales while a phalanx of children gathered in front of him.

Tubid, Caguioa, Helterbrand, Yee, Norwood, Dillinger and Alapag then gamely interacted with the fans, dancing and performing with the ecstatic kids.

“These children look up to the players as heroes and models so I also want to thank them for finding time to be here and help spread our goal. We in the PBA not only promote the game of basketball, but we also promote wellness and clean environment through our outreach program,” Barrios stressed.

“Today we are promoting education – particularly reading. Hopefully, our efforts will somehow inspire these children and make them realize the value of education.”

The PBA contingent also donated school supplies, backpacks, rubber balls, vitamins (Fern C) and 700 pairs of rubber shoes courtesy of Islander.

Barrios likewise addressed the elders, especially those whose families were devastated by typhoon Ondoy, encouraging them to stay strong, rise to the challenge and never give up even when things don’t work well.