Down Under Promotions relishes historic maiden venture with ACBA

CEBU, Philippines — The prime movers of Down Under Promotions Sports and Events relish with great joy in their hearts what has been a memorable maiden venture with the Australian Chinese Basketball Association (ACBA).

Just recently, Down Under Promotions made a bold move of flying in the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA)

Season 29 champions Immaculada Concepcion College (ICC) Blue Hawks to Sydney, Australia for the ACBA Easter Classic late last month.

It marks for the first time that a Philippine collegiate basketball team saw action in a commercial tournament on Australian soil.

“We are thrilled to announce that through our ACBA debut, the talents of Filipino players have been prominently showcased and admirably represented, leaving an enduring impression of quality and discipline, and earning widespread recognition and respect from the international community,” said Down Under Promotions Sports and Events chairman Julius Escobar.

Throughout the three-day tilt, the ICC Blue Hawks valiantly faced tough opponents that included some National Basketball League (NBL) Division 1 recruits, and along the way got invaluable insights from their breakthrough exposure on the international stage.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to NCRAA General Manager Buddy Encarnado for his role in facilitating this endeavor as well as to ICC President Marco Agana for their unwavering support in our milestone event,” Escobar continued. “Our sincere appreciation also goes to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for their diligent efforts in ensuring smooth travel arrangements for our representatives who proudly carried the country’s flag.”

Moreover, a grateful Escobar made special mention of ACBA founder Leon Teh and commissioner Kim Yi for giving them the opportunity to compete against formidable teams across the Land Down Under.

“We also express our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated members of our working committee namely coach Van Halen Parmis, head of basketball operations, director Dionnie Taguding, and marketing and multimedia head John Dave Casas.”

For Escobar, it’s mission accomplished.

At the same time, it’s just the beginning of their long-term goal to unite sports across all borders anchored on a genuine grassroots program for young aspiring cagers.

“We are committed to returning even stronger next time, further enhancing our nation’s pride by fostering unity through sports across all borders,” Escobar concluded. — (FREEMAN)