PBA teams show wares in Dubai

MANILA, Philippines - Three PBA teams were to leave for Dubai late last night, ready to bring excitement and entertainment to the overseas Filipino workers as they play back-to-back games in the Middle East business hub tomorrow and Friday.

Rain or Shine is featured in both games, taking on Barako Bull at 8 p.m. tomorrow then Barangay Ginebra also at 8 p.m. Friday at the Al-Shabab Sports Club.

The three ball clubs are all out to come alive in Dubai coming from stinging losses in Manila.

The Elasto Painters lost their first two games in the mid-season tourney, the last one on a fourth-quarter meltdown bungling a 17-point deficit versus the Powerade Tigers.

The Energy dropped their last two games to the B-Meg Llamados and the Air21 Express after winning their initial outing against the Alaska Milk Aces.

The Kings, meanwhile, suffered a heart-rending 74-76 loss to the Aces on a seven-point explosion by LA Tenorio in the last 18 seconds.

The three teams are determined to pick up their games and get into contention in the tough fight for only six spots in the playoffs of this short mid-season tourney.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud said they’re returning to Dubai to again bring love and affection to the OFWs based there.

The PBA first held a lone game in the United Arab Emirates capital in 2007 then came back last year with back-to-back games featuring Talk n Text, B-Meg and Ginebra.

Salud wants to reach out to OFWs, saying: “we owe them a debt of gratitude.”

The PBA chieftain is eager to particularly revisit Dubai to erase black marks denting their journey there last year.

The PBA drew overflowing crowd on its back-to-back games last July. A foul-up by the local promoter, however, resulted in the Talk n Text team being stranded in the Dubai airport, and the Tropang Texters had to take separate flights back to Manila.

PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial said they had adopted safeguards in their dealings with the promoters/organizers to ensure complete success of the trip.

Action in Manila resumes Sunday with Philippine Cup finalists Talk n Text and Powerade going for second straight win versus Alaska and Meralco, respectively.

The Bolts are considering tapping Earl Barron in place of Jarrid Famous. Barron has had a previous PBA stint with Red Bull.