THREE years after, the Dubai rematch between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Rain or Shine is on.
The Kings and the Elasto Painters clash on May 22 at the Al Shabab Al Arabi Club in the United Arab Emirates, with ROS looking to avenge 89-88 heartbreaker back in the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup.
PBA commissioner Chito Salud will lead a three-team PBA delegation leaving for Dubai Monday for two official Governors’ Cup games, marking the fourth stint of the league in this part of the globe.
“Dubai is a very hot spot for Philippine basketball, be it Gilas or the PBA,” Salud said. “Our basketball players never fail to entertain and bring joy to our kababayan OFWs in Dubai and other parts of the UAE.”
“Dubai always beckons. And we can’t resist our fans there. They simply love the PBA, and the PBA loves our countrymen there even more. Rain or Shine, GlobalPort and Ginebra will put on a show for Dubai! Mabuhay!”
Rain or Shine hopes to end a two-game losing skid when it plays back-to-back games, facing GlobalPort on May 21 and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on May 22. The May 21 game is set at 8:30 p.m. (12:30 a.m. Friday Manila time) while the game on May 22 is at 7:30 p.m. (11:30 p.m. Friday Manila time).
ROS coach Yeng Guiao says it would be an honor to again play before Filipinos working and residing in this basketball hotbed in the Middle East.
“Obligasyon natin yan sa mga kababayan natin don; it’s a small sacrifice for overseas fans ,” said Guiao. “It’s also a character-building situation because it forces you to adapt, makes you play tougher, physically and mentally.”
Erick Arejola, the GlobalPort Batang Pier governor, expressed his gratitude at the opportunity to play in Dubai and vowed to put on a show.
“We’re thankful to the PBA for inviting us to be part of this project,” Arejola said. “We’ll do our best to provide real entertainment to our kababayans out there.
Blckmrkt International and Clique are the Dubai games’ promoters.
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