PBA gives back to fans

The PBA ends its six-day “Isang Linggong Pamaskong Handog” treat for fans in Game 5 of the Talk ‘N’ Text-Alaska best-of-7 Philippine Cup semifinal series at the MOA Arena tonight. Since the everyday-game schedule began last Christmas Day, the league has given out toys to the first 100 kids passing through the turnstiles and raffled off MyPhones for each contest. It’s the PBA’s way of saying thanks to the new and not-so-new generations of fans during the holiday season.

But that’s not all. About a week before Christmas, the PBA linked up with Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte in reaching out to kids in a gift-giving event that last over three hours at the QC Memorial. Over 100,000 toys were distributed in five stations set up around the Memorial as kids turned out in droves to receive gifts from PBA players.

PBA media bureau chief and special assistant to the commissioner Willie Marcial said the response from the children was overwhelming. “It wouldn’t have been possible without Vice Mayor Belmonte’s support,” said Marcial. “The atmosphere was festive from start to finish. We all had fun. It’s always more fun giving than receiving. The place was packed with kids who not only got toys but also had the chance to meet their favorite players.”

The entire Rain Or Shine team showed up. Talk ‘N’ Text and Air21 were also represented. Players from other teams were supposed to attend an afternoon extension of the gift-giving but it was decided to distribute all the toys that morning as the crowd was overflowing. Marcial said they didn’t expect all the toys to go within a few hours.

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“Meralco was on the way to the Circle and we had to phone Ryan (Gregorio) to call off the players,” said Marcial.  “Players from Petron, Barangay Ginebra and San Mig Coffee were also scheduled to distribute gifts in the afternoon. We never expected such a big crowd that morning. Rain Or Shine had a game later that day but the players came in full force as early as 8:30 in the morning and stayed until 11 a.m. They were all there, Gabe Norwood, Ryan Arana, Beau Belga, Jeff Chan and of course, the player who had the most cheers, Chris Tiu. Others who came were RenRen Ritualo, Rich Alvarez, Bam Gamalinda, John Ferriols and Talk ‘N’ Text practice players Lamont Waters and Magnum Membrere. The place was so packed that the kids on the first row nearest to the stage couldn’t get out after receiving their gifts until the end of the event. Vice Mayor Belmonte did a tremendous job in organizing the gift-giving with five stations set up so as to spread out the crowd. MyPhone and Petron were the biggest sponsors of the gift-giving event. The kids loved the Petron action figures of the Avenger series like Thor, Captain America and Hulk.”

It was PBA commissioner Chito Salud’s idea to celebrate Christmas in a meaningful way by reaching out to fans.

Earlier, the PBA inaugurated its Christmas celebrity bazaar at the Midtown wing of Robinson’s Ermita. PBA merchandise went on sale in a booth that was clearly the biggest crowd drawer in the bazaar. The highlight products were 16 retro jerseys that recently took the market by storm. The jerseys include No. 16 worn by Alvin Patrimonio for Purefoods, No. 7 worn by Robert Jaworski for Toyota, No. 14 worn by Johnny Abarrientos for Alaska and No. 23 worn by Ricardo Brown for Great Taste. Marcial said all proceeds of the bazaar went to a fund for the care of cancer patients.

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Another PBA Christmas project was the distribution of relief goods for the typhoon “Pablo” flood victims in Davao del Norte and Campostela Valley. The PBA raised funds from its member franchises to distribute 50 boxes of sardines, 100 boxes of assorted Purefoods canned goods, 50 boxes of Alaska Milk and over P100,000 worth of medicine to the victims via the center in Novaliches set up by the MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) Group of Companies in a project called “Tulong Kapatid.” The MVP Group organized a four-hour telethon to kick off the campaign which set a target of P100 million to aid the victims.

“Every team contributed to the effort,” said Marcial. “Air 21 mobilized its trucks to bring the relief goods to the distribution center in Novaliches. More than anything, it showed how much the PBA cares. This wasn’t just about Christmas, this was about coming to the aid of our less fortunate countrymen.”