Historic PBA Back in Dubai at Coca-Cola Arena this weekend

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Dubai: Three of 12 men’s professional basketball teams in the Philippines will be contributing to the vibrant sports scene of the UAE and specifically Dubai when they will be the first to show hard court mettle at the 17,500-capacity iconic Coca Cola Arena on Oct.4-5.

The basketball teams, enlisted at the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) for between five and over 10 years, and among the strongest contingents in the 44-year existence of Asia’s first men’s professional basketball league, were presented before the media at the Dubai Sports Council (DSC) on Thursday.

DSC secretary general Saeed Mohammed Hareb graced the press conference that announced details of the “PBA Back in Dubai.”

NLEX Road Warriors (NLEX), of the NLEX Corp, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corp, owned by Filipino businessman/sports patron Manuel V Pangilinan will play back-to-back against “siblings” San Miguel Beermen (SMB) and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (Ginebra), two of three PBA clubs owned by the San Miguel Corp Group of Companies, owned by Ramon Ang, a Chinese-Filipino businessman and Top Frontier Investments Holding Inc. president/chief executive officer.

In reply to a Gulf Today’s question of NLEX playing twice — first against SMB at 8 pm on Oct.4 and Ginebra at 6 pm on Oct.5, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said the strategy is fully backed by NLEX head coach/politician/sports commentator Joseller “Yeng” Guiao, also the Philippine National Basketball Team interim coach.

Guiao believes having NLEX play back-to-back is one of the best training grounds for professional cagers to become much better team players.

DSC-Events Department acting director Ghazi Al Madani said the games is part of the DSC thrust placing Dubai at the “World Map of Sports,” a welcoming city to all athletes and sportsmen.

He said more have been calendared throughout 2019 and towards Expo2020 Dubai.

Nawal Al Ansari, Far Eastern Private School managing director, main events supporter, said the family has been in touched with the PBA from way back and bringing the teams to play in Dubai at this time is a vivid manifestation of the UAE’s observance of “The Year of Tolerance.”

Events organizer Abdulla Murad of the B&B Sports Services goes to the Philippines twice a year, and the weekend games is another way to connect with the basketball-loving Filipinos across the seven emirates.

Marcial echoed the delegation’s excitement who either are first-timers or repeat guests to the country.