NBA greats to play PBA counterparts
words by rick olivares photo by jun mendoza
http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/sports/14416-nba-greats-pba-legends-duel.html
words by rick olivares photo by jun mendoza
http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/sports/14416-nba-greats-pba-legends-duel.html
When a team of National Basketball Association hall-of-famers and greats backstopped by Developmental League players come to the Philippines to play their counterparts in the NBA Asia Challenge 2009 at the Araneta Coliseum on September 11, Robert Horry wants the ball in his hands if the exhibition match comes down to the final shot.
The former Houston Rocket, Phoenix Sun, Los Angeles Laker, and San Antonio Spur who won seven titles with three teams in a 16-year career will be celebrating his 39th birthday on August 25. He will join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who will coach this team, Tim Hardaway, Dominique Wilkins, and Vlade Divac in the largest NBA event in the Philippines. The Dunking Divas and Sly, the Silver Fox mascot of the New Jersey Nets will also be on hand for the day’s entertainment.
The Philippine Basketball Association All-Stars will find Ronnie Magsanoc, Allan Caidic, Alvin Patrimonio, and Benjie Paras in action once more. “We will show the NBA how powerful we are,” joked PBA Commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios who said that last season’s Mythical Five Selection could also suit up for the event. “We don’t to be too strong.”
That drew laughs from Peter Chanliong, COO of Solar Sports, organizer of the event and local carrier for NBA and PBA games; Edward Winkle, Senior Director for Business Development and Marketing Partnerships for the Asia-Pacific; and Department of Tourism Undersecretary Cynthia Carreon who looked forward to the basketball event. “High profile events like this – when hosted here continuously – add to the profile of the Philippines,” she enthused.
“This cements the relationship between the NBA and Solar Sports, the PBA, and the Philippines,” conferred a pleased Winkle who joined the NBA, the world’s best and most popular basketball league a few months ago. “This raises the bar.”
“At first, I didn’t like the nickname “Big Shot Rob,” confided Horry when the BUSINESS MIRROR asked him how he felt to be conferred such an immortal nickname in a special phone patch interview with the local sports media in an affair at the Dusit Thani Hotel that was graced by officials from Solar Sports, the NBA and PBA’s television carrier, the PBA, the Department of Tourism, and from event sponsors Gatorade, DHL, adidas, and Spalding. “But it grew on me and it’s great to be able to have made all those shots and I look forward to showing Filipino fans who I heard are not only one of the best in the sport but also some of the best NBA fans out there what I can do.”
When asked if he was in shape, Horry admitted that the shape he was in was running after his children. “I’m not yet in basketball shape but I’ll get there.”
The former Houston Rocket, Phoenix Sun, Los Angeles Laker, and San Antonio Spur who won seven titles with three teams in a 16-year career will be celebrating his 39th birthday on August 25. He will join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who will coach this team, Tim Hardaway, Dominique Wilkins, and Vlade Divac in the largest NBA event in the Philippines. The Dunking Divas and Sly, the Silver Fox mascot of the New Jersey Nets will also be on hand for the day’s entertainment.
The Philippine Basketball Association All-Stars will find Ronnie Magsanoc, Allan Caidic, Alvin Patrimonio, and Benjie Paras in action once more. “We will show the NBA how powerful we are,” joked PBA Commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios who said that last season’s Mythical Five Selection could also suit up for the event. “We don’t to be too strong.”
That drew laughs from Peter Chanliong, COO of Solar Sports, organizer of the event and local carrier for NBA and PBA games; Edward Winkle, Senior Director for Business Development and Marketing Partnerships for the Asia-Pacific; and Department of Tourism Undersecretary Cynthia Carreon who looked forward to the basketball event. “High profile events like this – when hosted here continuously – add to the profile of the Philippines,” she enthused.
“This cements the relationship between the NBA and Solar Sports, the PBA, and the Philippines,” conferred a pleased Winkle who joined the NBA, the world’s best and most popular basketball league a few months ago. “This raises the bar.”
“At first, I didn’t like the nickname “Big Shot Rob,” confided Horry when the BUSINESS MIRROR asked him how he felt to be conferred such an immortal nickname in a special phone patch interview with the local sports media in an affair at the Dusit Thani Hotel that was graced by officials from Solar Sports, the NBA and PBA’s television carrier, the PBA, the Department of Tourism, and from event sponsors Gatorade, DHL, adidas, and Spalding. “But it grew on me and it’s great to be able to have made all those shots and I look forward to showing Filipino fans who I heard are not only one of the best in the sport but also some of the best NBA fans out there what I can do.”
When asked if he was in shape, Horry admitted that the shape he was in was running after his children. “I’m not yet in basketball shape but I’ll get there.”
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