FedEx Express off today for Bahrain

The FedEx Express team leaves today for Bahrain for a series of goodwill games aimed at bringing joy to the thriving Middle Eastern nation’s close to 30,000 overseas Filipino workers.

Led by Vergel Meneses and Jerry Codinera, together with assistant team manager Jojo Lavina, coach Derrick Pumaren and consultant Boni Garcia, the entire Express gang is joining the five-day trip made possible through the efforts of the Bahrain Basketball Association.

"The entire team is excited about this opportunity of playing for our kababayans in Bahrain," said coach Pumaren. "I’m sure they will be delighted no end seeing our players come over and play before them, but the feeling is mutual."

They face the Bahrain national team on July 10, and a top Bahrain pro squad the following day.

"I heard that the Bahrain national team which the Express team will meet is the one being sent by the BBA to the ABC (Asian Basketball Confederation) in China this September. So it’s going to be an interesting game," said Garcia.

Express team owner and Air21 chairman Bert Lina said the Bahrain sojourn, which was being promoted by Malta Ad Prom and coordinated by BBA Secretary General Nasser Moh’d Nasser and Baby Fulgencio, is a "double-edged" opportunity for the team.

"While we are able to entertain our OFW heroes through our two-game series, we are also able to promote FedEx, which has a very large reach in the country," said Lina. "We’re shooting two birds with a single stone here, so to speak."

Other Express players expected to shine in the series are John Ferriols, Ren-Ren Ritualo, Wynne Arboleda, Yancy de Ocampo, Omanzie Rodriguez, Egay Billones, Gherome Ejercito, Marvin Ortiguerra and Roger Yap.