THE PBA is not just about basketball, after all.
Proof that it also has the general welfare of Philippine sports in mind, the league donated a total of P6 million to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for use as part of the Filipino athletes' training and preparation for the coming Asian Games in Indonesia and the 2019 Southeast Asian Games the country will be hosting.
The turnover was made during halftime of the Commissioner's Cup game between Barangay Ginebra and TnT Katropa at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The POC board led by president Ricky Vargas and chairman Bambol Tolentino were on hand to receive the financial support from the PBA board, which ironically, is also being chaired by Vargas.
All 12 PBA teams contributed P500,000 each for the cause.
Sponsored content: San Miguel Corp. and the MVP Sports Foundation separately also did their share by contributing P20 million each, pegging the total monetary support received by the POC to a staggering P46 million.
"I'd like to thank with gratitude the PBA for its contribution, and the San Miguel Corp. the MVPSF. "These are all directed towards the athletes, towards the NSAs (National Sports Associations) for the programs for Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games," said Vargas.
"We are very thankful for all these contributions. Para sa atleta, para sa bayan, para sa programa."
Commissioner Willie Marcial said it was the board who initiated in extending financial help to the POC during its recent meeting and bonding session held in Hong Kong.
"Initiative ito ng mga governors na suportahan ang POC na ang presidente ay siyang chairman din natin," said Marcial in the brief press conference that followed the turnover rite.
Sponsored content: But Barangay Ginebra board representative Alfrancis Chua disclosed it was Marcial who convinced members of the board to raise the monetary assistance from the initial fund raised by the league governors.
"Yung PBA kasi ganitong halaga ang ibibigay, but upon the suggestion of commissioner Marcial na kugn puwede lakihan namin, ginawa na rin ng board," said Chua, also the sports director of San Miguel Corp.
"Mr. Vargas is part of the family (naman), and this is our way to show support and pagtutulungan dito sa board."
Joining Vargas and Tolentino in behalf of the POC were secretary general Patric Gregorio, deputy secretary-general Karen Caballero, and NSA officials Al Panlilio, president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) National Chess Federation of the Philippine (NCFP) counterpart Prospero Pichay, and Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) secretary general Ed Picson.(RG)
