Longtime PBA fan wins dream house
Norma Andal has religously followed the PBA from the time she spotted Olsen Racela way back in 1998.
By her confession, Racela’s dental braces and captivating smile—not his game—instantly turned her into a fan of the former San Miguel Beer star and the PBA.
“Ang cute niya kapag ngumingiti,” mused the 41-year old housewife, who recalled meeting Racela up close and personal at the parking lot of the Cuneta Astrodome while he was signing autographs.
“Right there and then hinanap ko agad yung presidente ng fans club niya. Simula noon walang palya na akong nanonood ng mga laro ng San Miguel kahit sa out-of-town,” swears Andal, who used to be crazy about movie stars and bands.
“Wala talaga akong kaalam-alam sa PBA noon. Artista lang at banda ang kinalolokohan ko noon,” she said
In fact, she and some friends came to the Cuneta Atrodome only to catch their favorite band perform at halftime of the San Miguel-Alaska game on the night she met Racela.
The rest, as they say, is history. Now three years into married life and living with her siblings and relatives in a small compound in Quezon City, Andal said she and her husband have always dreamt to have a house they could call their own.
On Wednesday, the PBA made the couple’s dream come true. Andal’s entry won the jackpot in the league’s raffle promo: Drible your way to your new house sa PBA at Camella, bagong bahay, bagong Buhay.
“I’m happy that a longtime and loyal supporter [of the PBA] has won the major prize. This could well be our early Christmas gift to her,” said PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa.
“We will try to work on another joint venture with Camella. And hopefully, the PBA will again play the fairy godmother’s role and make the dream of the next winner come true,” added Narvasa.
“Hindi ako makapaniwala. Tulala ako ng sabihin ng asawa ko na ako raw ang nanalo ng house and lot sa pa-raffle ng PBA. Nasa labas kasi ako at that time para ibigay yung tickets ng ibang fans na kasama namin” said Andal, who joined LA Tenorio’s fans clubs when Racela retired in 2006.
“Talagang dream come true para sa amin ng asawa ko ito. Lagi kong sinasabi sa mga kasama ko sa fans club na ako ang mananalo ng top prize. Nagkatotoo nga. Sobrang thankful ako kay God at sa PBA,” Andal said.
Last Friday, Narvasa and Camella’s Camille Villar presented Andal the key to her new home.
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