Dubai gets high on PBA thrillers

MANILA, Philippines - PBA commissioner Chito Salud expects more regular pba games to be staged in the Middle East following the tremendous success of the two-game bill the pro league held last week.

Salud and the rest of the 95-member PBA group flew back home late Sunday night aware of the impact their five-day sojourn in Dubai had left among cage fans, particularly Filipinos based in the area.

The promoters were also impressed by ther huge turnout of spectators at the Al-Shabab Sports Club which watched the two well-fought matches featuring Rain of Shine, Barangay Ginebra and Barako Bull.

The venue was literally filled to the rafters during the Ginebra-Rain or Shine tussle won by the Kings, 89-88.

Leaders of the UAE cage federation witnessed the successful staging of the event, prompting them to make their own offer to hold a PBA event in Abu Dhabi.

The Philippine Expats Basketball Club, organizer and promoter of the event, hopes to bring the PBA back in December.

“We just can’t have enough of the PBA games. We’re looking at holidays in late November and early December. We want those days so that our kababayans are free from work to enjoy the games,” said PEBC chairman Edwin Deang, from San Fernando, Pampanga.

“We’ve yet to get the official tally. But just to see our kababayans enjoy the games is more than enough for us,” said Tess Sales Al-Ansari, owner of the Far Eastern Private School who helped finance the event.

The Ilocos native, who is married to a UAE national who’s into several business concerns, herself wants the PBA back soon.

“It’s up to the commissioner. As for us, we’re willing to back up this event for 20 years. I’m very satisfied seeing the Filipinos happy,” said Ahmid Al-Ansari.

“Our kababayans really long for entertainment. The PBA is a good event to make them happy. Somehow, they feel at home watching the PBA stars,” said Mrs. Al-Ansari, who with her husband, plans to fly to Manila to watch the games in its regular venues.

The Al-Ansari couple manages the Optic 2000 team in the Dubai league.

During the pre-Dubai series press conference, the PBA commissioner had promised to bring even bigger games in Dubai which has a huge population of Filipino workers and expats.

Salud said they’re visiting Dubai for the third time in five years purposely to bring entertainment and cheers to the Filipino workers.

“This is not a junket. It’s tough for our teams to travel long to play an official game. Our teams sacrifice to help make our kababayans happy,” Salud said then.

During the simple opening rites, Salud drew roaring approval from the crowd when he promised the PBA would keep on visiting Dubai.

“Hanggang nagtitiwala kayo sa PBA, hindi magsasawa ang PBA na kayo ay bisitahin,” said Salud.