Marbury set for Phl return, teams up with Asi in charity game

MANILA, Philippines – Former NBA All Star Stephon Marbury fell in love and felt at home during his first visit last month that he quickly booked his next trip to this basketball-crazy country.

The Filipinos have seen in flesh the philanthropist and businessman in him that he couldn’t wait to show his side that made him a streetball legend in New York playgrounds, an All Star point guard in the NBA and a basketball hero in China.

Marbury has hooked up with the reigning Asean Basketball League MVP Asi Taulava in a charity basketball game on August 7 to raise funds for his adopted families – the National Press Club of the Philippines and Ahon Pamilyang Lansangan Foundation.

Team RockStar will go up against PBA’s Barako Bull Energy Cola in the exhibition game dubbed as Bigger than Basketball: A Day of Love – Stephon Marbury Gives Back at the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies (AIMS) in Pasay City.

“The reception the National Press Club gave to Stephon and meeting the children and families being helped by Ahon, touched Stephon so much, that’s why he didn’t think twice in agreeing to be a part of this fundraising event,” said Sports Network Management’s Sheryl Reyes, who serves as Marbury’s agent in Asia. “They showed love for Stephon, so he's giving back.”

Marbury’s visit last June was primarily to explore partnership with local distributors for his shoe and apparel line – Starbury – which he is hoping to launch in the last quarter of the year.

The 1997 NBA first-rounder earlier promised to set aside a certain percentage of Starbury line’s proceeds, once it hits the Philippine market, for the NPC’s educational and medical assistance fund for its members and their families, and children, under the care of Ahon, afflicted with Biliary Atresia needing immediate liver transplant.

He, however, did not wait until his products start selling locally and helped conceptualize an event that can quickly raise funds to help finance the children’s medical expenses.

One procedure costs about four million pesos, not including post-operative care.

“I am a parent, I have three kids. I can only imagine what they (parents) are going through seeing their children suffer like that. I will help as many people as I can, in what little way I can,” Marbury, who now plays for the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association, said in a previous interview.

Part of the proceeds that will be raised will also go to the AIMS, where Marbury held his fans day last June, for campus enhancements.

“When you show love you get love in abundance,” said Marbury.

Joining the 2004 Olympic bronze medalist are PBA’s Dondon Hontiveros, Ronald Tubid, Dorian Pena, Willie Miller, Alex Crisano, Chris Ross, Billy Mamaril, Renren Ritualo, Dorian Pena, Harvey Carey, and Sol Mercado who will help call the shots from the sidelines.

ABL players Leo Avenido, Taulava’s San Miguel teammate, and Jai Reyes of the Saigon Heat will also be part of the team, along with the sports scribes’ Pakitang Gilas squad, the reigning NPC inter-beat champions.

Side events and fun games including the three-point shootout challenge will be held before the game.

Tickets are priced at P200 and P500 each. Atleta and Jersey Haven are the event’s official outfitters. For other details, queries may be coursed through teaml5r@yahoo.com or 0915-4134083.