Not a few PBA personalities continue to chip in whatever they can or whatever they have in a campaign to stem the spread of COVID-19.
On the frontline leading the fight in his beloved town Bulakan in Bulacan province is 1995 PBA MVP awardee Vergel Meneses - the town mayor.
A first-term local chief executive, he's faced with a delicate task in this time of crisis, but he's coping just as he was cool, calm, composed and dependable at crunch time during his stellar playing career.
"Napaghandaan naman natin ito, at tulong-tulong naman kami dito sa Bulakan," said Meneses.
With strict adherence to protocols of the enhanced community quarantine, Bulakan had been free of the disease until one tested positive Sunday.
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"Mahigpit kami, at talagang tulong-tulong," said Meneses.
On Saturday, Meneses has started giving food packs to 20,000 households - with some part of the dole-outs coming from his own pocket.
"Okay lang yan. Importante okay ang mga tao dito sa amin, at matagal ko naman nang ginagawa iyan bago pa ako maging mayor," he said.
Meneses is making a difference as a mayor as he did as a PBA star who had done it all - from taking the pro league by storm, becoming a franchise player, winning championships, reaping awards, being a slam-dunk champ and serving the national team.
After seeing his No. 18 jersey retired by the Air21 Express, he gave back to his school, serving as the Jose Rizal U Heavy Bombers head coach for almost a decade until his election as Bulakan, Bulacan mayor in 2016.
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But 1995 would be the year he would be best remembered. It's his crowning glory.
He then dominated the PBA skyline as Mr. Aerial Voyager, so much so that he nearly propelled Sunkist Orange Juice to a grand slam.
Meneses and his Sunkist teammates, under coach Derrick Pumaren, ruled the Philippine Cup and the Commissioner's Cup, and missed by just one game what could have been a title showdown with Alaska Milk in the Governors Cup.
Truly, it's Meneses' best PBA season where he averaged a career-best 20.03 points on top of 3.34 rebounds and 5.41 assists per game. (SB)
