New role for Meneses

MANILA, Philippines –  A basketball clinic to be conducted by former PBA MVP Vergel Meneses and Jerry Codiñera under the Happy Tears Foundation will be held at 9 a.m. today at the Highlander covered court in Barangay Burol, Mandaluyong.

The one-day clinic is made possible through the support of Andre de Beer, a financial adviser from Wales, United Kingdom and a staunch supporter of Filipino sports in his native country.

“With the help of the Happy Tears Foundation through Andre, the clinic aims to help young and talented players to hone their skills through scientific training,” said Meneses, also the head coach of the Jose Rizal University.

“Hopefully, the clinic will not be last since we plan to expand it to the rest of the country as envisioned by Andre himself,” added Meneses.

As Meneses himself recalled, De Beer visited the country in May 2010 for some business engagements but quickly got involved in the holding of free basketball clinics for the under-privileged youths of San Juan.

“Watching under-privileged children being taught the rudiments of basketball for free by experienced coaches and trainers was a deeply moving experience for me,” De Beer told Meneses.

With Meneses serving as the guiding light, the Happy Tears Foundation was soon established to take the lead in this noble efforts to “teach children their favorite sport of basketball.”

Meneses said Happy Tears Foundation will also assist in the training of future sports leaders in different barangays through various leadership training and coaching courses.

He said Happy Tears Foundation will serve as a vehicle even for out-of-school youths to get involved in worthwhile sports activities and keep them out of the streets.

The Happy Tears Basketball Clinic is also being supported by Mandaluyong City, headed by Mayor Benjamin Abalos Jr.

Also supporting the clinic are Maria Corazon D. Rodrigo, Crispina D. Espedido, Paul Supan, Ernie Santiago’s Mac-Mac Auto Sales and Barangay Burol chairman Ernesto Santos Jr.

Helping Meneses are Jhun Tiongco, Vic Escudero, Ricky Alcantara, Ambo Vicente, Ollie Santos, Alladin Cruz, Dario Elvina, Macky Villarta, Mark Hernandez, Aloy Castillo, Pablo Lucas and former RP team mainstay Jerome Cueto.