Thousands of OFWs await HK PBA bash

A warm welcome is expected to greet the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) when it takes its act to Hong Kong this coming Sunday.

Thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) based in the former British colony are now eagerly awaiting the arrival of the league which plays its first official out of the country game in the Gran Matador Brandy-PBA Philippine Cup by way of the Purefoods-Talk ‘N Text match on March 19.

The lone game to be played at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium is made possible by Talk ‘N Text owner Manny Pangilinan through his Smart Global, with the support of Magic Sing and Cebu Pacific as official carrier.

Game tickets have been in demand since the league confirmed the holding of a first ever PBA duel in Hong Kong.

"This is our way of thanking our thousands of OFW fans in Hong Kong. We’re bringing to them no less than the exciting brand of basketball the PBA has been known for," said commissioner Noli Eala, who extended his thanks to Pangilinan who agreed to be the game’s major sponsor via Smart Global.

"The endeavor wouldn’t become possible without the help and effort extended by Pangilinan. We truly thank him for all his support from the bottom of our heart," added Eala.

The Hong Kong sojourn is the second official out of the country game the league is playing in two years.

In last year’s Fiesta Conference, Talk ‘N Text battled Formula Shell before a jampacked crowd in Jakarta, Indonesia, with the Phone Pals emerging a 97-88 winner.

The overseas game also kicks off the league’s series of road sorties for the season-ending conference.