PBA officials, stars to visit Yolanda victims

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Basketball Association visits Bogo, Cebu today with commissioner Chito Salud and chairman Mon Segismundo leading the league’s relief operations for survivors of super typhoon Yolanda.

Petron Blaze stars Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot, Barako Bull’s Willie Miller and Globalport’s Sol Mercado will join the PBA officials to personally lend a hand in the league’s Alagang PBA program.

Actress Shaina Magdayao, a Bogo native, and Excite Inc. chief operating officer Icel Palomares Argana, with their own relief goods, will be part of the PBA delegation in the trip.

The PBA is giving away basketball boards, goals and balls on top of relief packages to the people of Bogo, among those hardest hit by Yolanda.

Salud and his team are coordinating with Cebu board member Yayoy Alcoseba, travel/tours expert Andrew Teh and Rep. Celestino Martinez.

Last November, Mark Caguioa, Jimmy Alapag and Asi Taulava, LA Tenorio and Danny Seigle helped in PBA’s relief operations in Tacloban City.

“This is our way of showing support to our brothers who were devastated by Yolanda. And the PBA is on it for a long term, not just one time,” said Salud.

“We’ll be visiting again Ormoc, Samar, Bohol and even Cebu,” said Salud.

And as promised by the PBA top honcho, a PBA team hit the road again, delivering goods to the needy. Kids were also photographed playing basketball on a makeshift court amidst the ruins and debris in Western Samar.

The photo went viral in social media with NBA players considering it as one of the best basketball pictures in recent past.

The kids said playing basketball is their only source of entertainment now, and they’re hoping to be visited by their idols from the PBA soon.