SALUD BARES PLANS TO BRING PBA ELSEWHERE IN DUBAI PRESSCON
DUBAI – PBA commissioner Chito Salud, with Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao in attendance, along with the assistant coaches of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and GlobalPort, presided over a well-attended press conference Thursday at the Al Khor Ballroom of the Rotana Hotel here.
Also present were Eric Gonzales and Oliver Bunyi of GlobalPort and Barangay Ginebra’s Olsen Racela.
On a separate table, Kings stars Mark Caguioa, Jayjay Helterbrand and LA Tenorio made a surprise appearance and likewise answered questions prior to the back-to-back PBA Governors’ Cup games at the Al Shabab Club.
Salud paid tribute to PBA fans working in the oil-rich metropolis in the heart of the United Arab Emirates.
“This is not the first time we’re here,” Salud said. “The fans here really love basketball and we can only reciprocate. Players realize their responsibility to the fans. Hats off to Rain or Shine for agreeing to play two regular season games for two consecutive nights. GlobalPort is doing well so expect them to give Rain or Shine a hard time. And of course, expect Ginebra to step up on Friday. We also have Asian imports giving the PBA a more global appeal.”
Salud also bared plans to bring PBA games to South Korea, New Zealand, Qatar, Japan, Taipei and Abu Dhabi.
Guiao said their decision to take on the challenge of back-to-back games was prompted by their desire to give back to overseas Filipino workers.
“We really want to be here because Filipinos here are very passionate about basketball, and they’re very warm and hospitable,” said Guiao. “It’s not a big sacrifice because we truly enjoy their company. It gives us the opportunity to reach out to them.”
Playing here, Guiao said, allows PBA ballclubs to share in a “social responsibility” to the thousands of compatriots working here and gives players a better understanding of what OFWs give up for their families back home.
“Lahat ng kababayan natin pag nabalitaan nila na ang PBA ay nasa Dubai, they feel you have extended yourselves to them,” Guiao said. “Sila nahihiwalay sa pamilya, kami isang linggo lang kaya bigyan naman natin sila ng saya.”
Racela, along with Caguiao, Helterbrand and Tenorio, admitted the Kings had been struggling lately in the absence of skyscrapers Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar but expressed confidence a silver lining is in the horizon for the league’s biggest draw.
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