IN recent past, the Philippine Basketball Association has played official games in Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai, bringing thrill and excitement to Filipino communities in those areas.
Next overseas destination for the PBA could be Canada.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial has just visited Toronto and Calgary, and had fruitful talks with locals bringing forth many possibilities, including an official PBA game in this North American country.
“Maraming pwedeng engagements, maraming prospects,” said Marcial of the possible ventures coming out from his meetings with the Toronto Raptors management and the organizing group that brought Gilas legends to a goodwill tour in Canada.
Marcial flew to Toronto on July 3 for an official business meeting with Raptors official Julian Franklin who was a PBA guest in Manila in March. Franklin is Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment (Toronto Raptors franchise owner) vice president for global partnership.
Then Marcial hopped over to Calgary, personally experiencing the warm welcome of Filipino migrants and OFWs in the Gilas legends friendly with the University of Calgary team – the kickoff of a four-weekend goodwill tour of different cities for LA Tenorio, Ranidel de Ocampo, Marc Pingris and others.
“Ang daming Pinoy, at masaya. Mainit ang pagtanggap nila sa atin,” said Marcial.
In a talk on the sidelines of the game, discussed were possible collaborations that could lead to an official PBA game.
Marcial and Go Hard Sports head Danilo Cruz, and associates Roderick Liwanag and Alexander Tumang are looking into programs that will include Batang PBA in Calgary.
“There will be clinics, and will first test the water by bringing a PBA team to play an exhibition game, then an official game,” said Marcial. (SB)
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