US basketball players in Cebu for friendship games

CEBU, Philippines - Select players from the National Basketball Association Development League are now in Cebu to share with local players their expertise in the court through the American Basketball Friendship Game.

A team called as ‘Soldiers of the Lord’ composed of players from Athletes for  Christ and Excellent Service (ACES) and selected players of the National Basketball Association Development league will compete with local players in Barili town at 7 p.m. tonight.

The team also visited and played with local players in Alegria Friday night and Tuburan town last night. The American Team, which is managed by Pastor Jun Canoy, also visited the typhoon ravaged city of Tacloban last July 3 for missionary work.

ACES, under the Living Word Christian Churches of Cebu, has been playing several goodwill exhibition games since 2009. They have played in Iligan City, Davao City, Palawan, Cebu and in Metro Manila as part of its Christian Missionary Work dubbed as “Embrace and Reach Philippines by Pure Works”.

Former Philippine Basketball Association star Alfonso AL Solis, now based in the United States, is a mentor of a church-based sports ministry who coordinated with Board Member Grecilda “Gigi” P. Sanchez to accommodate the request of the American Christian Missionary Group.

“I’m so happy nga ang venue naa sa Barili and Tuburan. Friendship games like these especially with other international players would promote camaraderie. Ang pag-execute nila on how they play ma-share nila diri sa local players,” Sanchez said.

She added that the entrance fees vary in different local government units. The fees will cover expenses in staging the game. — /JMO (FREEMAN)