Players from NBA D-League in Cebu for hoop clinics, friendly games and medical missions

ON A UNIQUE MISSION

A group of players and coaches from the National Basketball Association (NBA) Development League are in Cebu to share more than just their passion for basketball.

Dubbed “Soldiers of the Lord of the American Christian Missionary Group,” the all-American team is in Cebu to play against local teams, hold basketball clinics for the youth and spearhead medical missions for underprivileged Cebuanos. More importantly, the group is here to “spread God’s word and help His people through basketball.”

“Americans love basketball, but Filipinos are passionate and totally in love with the sport,” said Lawrence Crawford, coach of the team during the Sports Friendship Game press conference yesterday at the South Town Centre in Talisay City. “That is  why we use basketball to spread our mission of love.”

Crawford was with fellow coach Carl Foster and eight players. They are Tyree McReary, Udoab Usauke, KJ Jones, Sammy Geyares, Michael “Mike” Harris, KK Alexander, Donald Johnson and Brandon Cole.

The team started their mission yesterday with a game against a squad from Talisay at the Talisay Sports Complex and will be here until Sunday.

“This team is not just a team of talented basketball players. This is a team of individuals with a passion to serve God and His people,” said Foster.

In playing against local teams, coach Crawford said the team has been looking forward to the opportunity of experiencing the Filipino brand of basketball.

“I, for one, look forward to playing against Filipinos, Cebuanos in particular, because I was told they’re very physical in basketball, and they’re aggressive even if they’re always smiling,” said Harris, a 6-foot-5 point guard from the Sonoma State University. “If they’re strong players, who cares if they’re short, right?”

After playing against Talisay last night, the team also faces off against top players from the municipality of Asturias today, and teams from the cities of Toledo and Mandaue this weekend.

Aside from the games, the team is equally excited about the chance to teach Cebuano kids.

“I look forward to meeting all these children, and help them be better players, at the same time help them understand that God has given them these gifts and that we should thank Him for the blessings He has given,” added Harris.

The team, together with 45 volunteers from Embrace and Reach Philippines, will also be holding medical-dental missions and campus ministries in places they will be visiting.

The group has brought with them six dentists, five doctors and several nurses, all volunteers from Manila and Cebu, to help in the medical-dental missions.

“I’m really psyched that we’re not just here to play basketball, but also do a lot of good things for people,” said Alexander, a 6-foot-6 forward from the California State University Fullerton.

Today, the team heads to the midwest  town of Pinamungajan for a medical-dental mission. They will next proceed to Asturias for a basketball clinic and a friendly match against top players from the town.

With a similar agenda, the team next visits Toledo City on Saturday and Mandaue City on Sunday before heading to Palawan on Monday.

The major sponsors of the press conference are South Town Centre, Popular Feedmill Corp., and Manila Foodshoppe.
With the help of Embrace and Reach Philippines, Incorporated, which is based in California, the group has been doing this mission in the country for eight years now. Foster said after those eight years, he has already learned to love native delicacies like balut, lechon and mangoes./ Juli Ann Sibi and Irish D. Torres