Iverson arrives in Manila for 2-day charity event

MANILA, Philippines – NBA legend Allen Iverson quietly slipped into town early Monday morning, two days before his charity event dubbed “All In” at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Iverson arrived via Philippine Airlines and checked in at Solaire Resort and Casino, where he will stay for the duration of his visit.

The former NBA MVP will hold a press conference and meet-and-greet session Tuesday at NBA Café Manila before holding an exclusive basketball clinic along with PBA’s two-time Grandslam coach Tim Cone and several PBA stars at 3 p.m. in Gawad Kalinga Bulaklakan Chapter in Brgy. Holy Spirit, Quezon City.

Player-agent Sheryl Reyes, who worked on bringing Iverson here, wants Filipino basketball fans to see the different side of Iverson. 

"I realized some people really think AI (Iverson) is troublesome or a snob, he is misunderstood and the media has portrayed him really bad just like with Stephon (Marbury). That is why I want our Filipino people to see the differfent side of Allen. Beyond the popularity, the way he dresses, he has a big heart," Reyes said on her Facebook page on Friday. 

Iverson rose to fame in the NBA as a polarizing figure. 

He was praised for his big heart that produced big plays on the hardcourt despite his small frame and became a global icon for his colorful personality while he was vilified for his run-ins with his coaches off the court, more particularly his infamous practice rants after he was criticized by his former coach Larry Brown for skipping practices during the 2011-02 season following his first and only Finals trip in the NBA.

Now, Iverson returns to the Philippines no longer as a rising star just like in his first trip here in 1998 but as a philanthropist and hoping to pick up momentum in his bid to return to the NBA as a coach in the near future.   

Joining Iverson and Cone in the basketball clinic are Harvey Carey of Talk n Text, former two-time PBA MVP Willie Miller, Sol Mercado and Chris Ross of San Miguel Beer and Jayjay Helterbrand of Brgy. Ginebra.

Iverson will cap his Manila visit with a charity game on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena which tips off at 7 p.m. where he will coach the Ball Up Streetball All-Stars led by The Professor and Bone Collector against a collection of UAAP and NCAA stars to be coached by Cone.

Team PCWorx will be composed of the Ravena brothers – Kiefer and Thirdy – along with Jeron Teng and Almond Vosotros of De La Salle, Jaymar Perez of San Sebastian, Mac Belo of FEU, Troy Rosario of UAAP champion NU and Ola Adeogun and Javee Mocon of NCAA champion San Beda.

Ex-NBA players Dermarr Johnson and Eddy Curry together with former PBA stars Jerry Codinera, Renren Ritualo and Miller will reinforce the local selection in the exhibition match organized by PCWorx with Samsung and Intel as gold sponsors and supported by Rapoo, Microsoft, AOC, Canon, HP, Accel, Solaire Resort and Casino, Philippine Airlines, NBA Café Manila, Wilkins, Powerade, Viva Mineral Water, PhilCare, Dell, Seagate, Epson Federal land, Erase Placenta and Acer.

Tickets to the charity game, aimed to build homes for Gawad Kalinga projects, are still available online at www.smtickets.com, all SM Ticket outlets and select PCWorx brances in Metro Manila.