PBA All Stars give back to community, fans
PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan -- The PBA All Star Week is not only about merry making and having fun for the players.
But it's also about giving back to the community.
From the hospital to barangay visit, tree planting and all other off-the-court activities, the players made it sure to leave the fans with lasting impression.
For Alaska rookie Chris Banchero, his first All Star experience is truly overwhelming and an eye-opener. They were trying their best to reach out to the fans. But in some instances like the hospital visit, it turned out that the fans who reached out and connected to them and made an impact in their lives.
"It's really overwhelming. The fans are great here. It just makes me sad to see kids and people suffering here (in the hospital). It opened my eyes and made me realize that we're lucky that we're healthy and been playing basketball," said Banchero during their charity visit to Ospital ng Palawan on Wednesday.
The Rookies and Sophomores brought along gifts and gamely posed for photos and sign autographs for the patients and hospital staff as well.
The Fil-Italian Banchero and another fellow rookie Matt Ganuelas-Rosser of Talk n Text were reminded of their kids back home when they entered the children's ward.
"Seeing these kids made me sad. We just wish them well and pray that they all get healthy and that's the most important thing," the all-around Talk n Text rookie said.
Meanwhile, Marc Pingris of the Purefoods Star Hotshots, and five more All Stars went to Brgy. Rio Tuba on Tuesday where throngs of adoring fans waited for them.
"Pinag-uusapan nga naming mga players. Parang scene sa Walking Dead (American TV series) na parang may mga zombies na humahabol sa amin. Mainit na dahil summer na pero mas mainit ang pagtanggap nila dito. Ganun kami kamahal ng mga fans. Sila naman ang dahilan kung bakit kami nandito kaya gagawin namin ang lahat, kahit sumayaw pa kami, just to give back at mapasaya namin sila kahit papaano," Pingris said.
"Ganun naman talaga ang All Star [week], para sa kanila [mga fans] ito. It's more of giving back to the community aside from having fun," Pingris' teammate James Yap added.
- Latest
- Trending
