Game between PBA All-Star Selection and Gilas Pilipinas on April 30 at Hoops Dome
Lapu-Lapu City is set for another major sports undertaking as it plays host to what could be an exciting showdown between Gilas Pilipinas and PBA All-Star Selection on April 30 at the Hoops Dome.
The PBA All-Star Selection will be composed of players with Cebuano roots such as June Mar Fajardo, Dondon Hontiveros, Terrence Romeo, JR Quiñahan, Ronald Tubid and Greg Slaughter.
Romeo and Fajardo were among those who were named to the Gilas pool that will train for the FIBA World Championship in 2019.
Aside from Romeo and Fajardo, included in the pool were Paul Lee, Jayson Castro, Raymond Almazan, Norbert Torres, Bradwin Guinto, Jonathan Grey, LA Revilla, Japeth Aguilar, Art dela Cruz, Calvin Abueva, Carl Bryan Cruz, Mac Belo, Kevin Ferrer, Von Pessumal, Russel Escoto, Ed Daquioag, Alfonso Gotladera, Matthew Wright, Mike Tolomia, Arnold Van Opstal, Jio Jalalon and Roger Pogoy.
For a cause
The final lineup of the two teams will be completed in the first week of March, said event promoter Emmanuel Mandaraig, CEO/President of Mandaraig Trustworthy Construction Corp.
“I really asked PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa and Gilas Pilipinas Chot Reyes to give me this chance to host this kind of an event. This is part of my thrust to bring the sport to the grassroots level, to bring the PBA closer to the hearts of the Cebuanos,” Mandaraig said.
Mandaraig said bringing the PBA to Cebu is also part of his desire to help the less-fortunate ones as outreach programs will be held when players from both squads start arriving on April 28.
“We will be donating some items during the outreach programs. There will be hospital visitations, we will be going to some homes for the aged and facilities in Lapu-Lapu which are taking care of abused children,” said Mandaraig.
Mandaraig was the same promoter who brought the San Miguel Beermen and the GlobalPort Batang Pier to Lapu-Lapu City last Jan. 21. The match, won by the Beermen, 106-100, was a bearing game in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup.
“I was happy when I was able to bring that game in Cebu. I spent P3 million for that and I barely broke even. This is a very expensive endeavor but this won’t stop us from bringing the PBA here,” said Mandaraig.
Selling of tickets will start in the first week of March. Ticket prices are at P2,500 (courtside), P2,000 (lower box), P1,300 (SRO lower box), P1,500 (upper box), P1,000 (SRO upper box) and P500 (general admission).
Tickets will be available at the Trustworthy office at the WDC Building along Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City.