PBA players revisit Yolanda-hit Tacloban

MANILA, Philippines -  A little over a year after its previous visit, the Philippine Basketball Association returned to Tacloban, Leyte yesterday, bringing cheers and some goodies to Taclobanons who are still recovering from the wrath of super typhoon Yolanda.

Barangay Ginebra player Jayjay Helterbrand, Barako Bull’s JC Intal and Blackwater’s Alex Nuyles were with the PBA delegation that donated two basketball courts in Tacloban under the Alagang PBA outreach program.

In partnership with Holcim Cement and My Phone, the PBA group, led by commissioner Chito Salud and chairman Patrick Gregorio, revisited Tacloban then swung by Ormoc City where the league also donated a basketball court.

“The PBA just made good its vow of coming back in Leyte, the hardest hit region by super howler Yolanda,” said PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial.

The PBA delegation flew to Tacloban via a private jet courtesy of Columbian Motors vice chairman Chito Santos.

With the group were Blackwater alternate governor Wilbert Loa and Excite Events chief Gelo Serrano who brought in 200 boxes of school supplies.

In Tacloban, beneficiaries of basketball courts were the barangays of Paseo de Legaspi and Marasbaras.    

The PBA previously visited Leyte in November 2013 with league officials touched by a photo that went viral in social media.

“The background was the group of kids photographed playing basketball on a makeshift court amidst the ruins and debris left by Yolanda,” said Salud of the photo that some NBA players considered one of the best basketball pictures in the recent past.