AIA to play PBA, college teams head psorts

MANILA, Philippines - Athletes In Action, a cage team composed of American college players, is in town to play a series of matches against PBA teams and some of the country’s top collegiate squads and at the same time hold clinics and outreach programs for the young kids and the underprivileged.

AIA was playing Far Eastern University at the FERN Campus in Diliman at press time and is scheduled to face University of the East on Monday, Blackwater on Tuesday, Ateneo on Wednesday, reigning UAAP champion NU on Thursday, La Salle on Friday and KIA on Saturday.

Suiting up for AIA are Tyler Lewis of Butler, Eric Garcia of Wofford, Chris Hass of Bucknell, TK Edogi of Tulsa, Andre Yates of Cleveland State, Winston Shepard of San Diego State, Tryell Nelson of Gardner-Webb, Javis Howard of Charleston Southern, D’Andre Wright of Tulsa and Greg Lewis of Rutgers.

Morris Michalski is the head coach and general manager of the team which includes associate coach Phil Bolier and former North Carolina assistant Alan Major.

AIA will also hold an outreach program at the Bilibid Prison, Tondo, Boystown in Marikina, East Avenue and UP Village and conduct clinics in Clark, Pampanga tomorrow, Technological Institute of the Philippines, University of Makati and Valenzuela.

Capping the team’s stay, made possible by Smart, Maynilad, Alaska Milk, Freego, Microtel, Shacman, SM City Clark and Samaritan’s Feet, is a game against its AIA Philippines’ counterparts on Aug. 9.

AIA is a non-stock, non-profit organization aimed at spreading God’s Words through basketball.

Some of its famous products are Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant and the legendary David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs.