PBA prepares second wave of donations

MANILA, Philippines — The PBA continues to go all-out in supporting first responders, frontliners and health care workers by providing PPEs, masks, gloves and medical suits as commissioner Willie Marcial yesterday said the league is preparing a second wave of donations for hospitals in need of supplies.

PBA chairman Ricky Vargas jump-started the league’s drive by proposing a P1 million budget to fund the donations. The proposal was unanimously approved by the Board of Governors in a recent video conference meeting. Marcial was designated to take charge of the project which in its first wave, brought provisions to 11 hospitals.

The 11 beneficiaries were the Antipolo City Hospital System, Annexes 3, Sitio Cabading, Barangay Inarawan through former Rizal Gov. Junjun Ynares; Pasig City General Hospital, Pasig Children’s Hospital and Rizal Memorial Hospital through Pasig Vice-Mayor Iyo Bernardo; Ospital Ng Biñan through Rep. Len Alonte and Biñan Vice-Mayor Gel Alonte and Quirino Hospital, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Batangas Provincial Hospital, Philippine Mental Hospital, Talisay Health Center and Talisay Birthing Home.

“Patuloy ang tulong ng PBA sa mga frontliners,” said Marcial. “Nag-order kami ng 400 medical suits from (Magnolia) coach Chito (Victolero) from his sportswear pagawaan sa Bulacan for the first wave and another 400 for the second wave. Kinausap ko si (Pasay) Mayor Imelda (Calixto-Rubiano) last week to line up hospitals na nangangailangan. Magbibigay tayo sa Philippine Veterans Hospital at PNP sa next wave. We will coordinate with Gen. (Guillermo) Eleazar for the donations to PNP.”

Marcial said PBA coaches and players are voluntarily contributing to the effort. The latest to donate were Ginebra’s Stanley Pringle and NorthPort’s Kelly Nabong who brought food packs of rice and canned goods to the PBA office for distribution to frontliners. Pringle also donated P150,000 cash. “Maraming coaches at players nagbibigay sa security guards at police in the streets but ‘di nila alam kung saan ibibigay ang donations for frontliners kaya sa PBA office dinadala,” said Marcial.  Additionally, PBA sponsor Gillette contributed P500,000 for the project.

While the PBA season is suspended, Marcial said the league is actively promoting fitness, skills training and even cooking with players in social media. Deputy commissioner Eric Castro is coordinating with players for skills training. Kiefer Ravena and LA Tenorio will conduct a dribbling clinic on the PBA’s Facebook account with access on YouTube. A program called “Kilalanin” features players sharing their life lessons and tips on home activities, like cooking. “We’re abiding by government directives so until restrictions are lifted, no practice, no games,” he said. “I called for a Management Committee meeting by video the other day and we’re now studying health protocols for teams, officials and fans in venues so we’ll be ready whenever games are back.”