Access, SBP to rip world mark in cage marathon

MANILA, Philippines - Access, in partnership with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, is holding early next year a basketball marathon aimed at breaking the world record of 112 hours, 13 seconds the Missouri Athletic Club set in St. Louis, Missori March 21-25, 2012.

The special event, coming on the heels of the country’s successful hosting of the 27th FIBA Asia Championship, will feature 24 ballers – male or female – testing their skills, endurance and teamwork with the goal of playing 112-plus hours of non-stop game and scoring a combined output of over 20,000 points.

“Hopefully, we break the old mark, and this would be our humble contribution in the effort to sustain the renaissance of Philippine basketball,” said Basketball Marathon project head Peeya delos Reyes.

“It is a special, noble event as it is a fund-raiser for a cause,” Delos Reyes also said.

“We appreciate their effort and we fully support them,” said SBP executive director Sonny Barrios.

“We’re one with them in the hope of breaking the world record and put the Philippines in the so-called world basketball map,” Barrios added.

The national cage federation provides technical support, including table and game officials, in the Basketball Marathon with Discovery Channel and YouTube as media partners.

Organizers hold the initial tryout for the players participating in the event on Dec. 7 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at the RTU gymnasium in Mandaluyong to be conducted by RTU head coach Johnedel Cardel.

Special prizes await the 24 players who will make the roster of participants.

Registration for the tryout is December to January 2014.

Participating outlets are Toby’s Sports (Toby’s Arena Shangri-La Plaza, SM Megamall, Robinsons Galleria, Greenhills, SM Centerpoint, SM Marikina, Robinsons Metro East, SM Taytay, SM Masinag, Sports Central (SM Megamall, SM City North EDSA, SM City Novaliches, SM City Sucat, SM Mall of Asia, SM City Fairview, SM City Manila), Royal Sporting House (Ali Mall, Festival Mall, Ermita), Timex (Glorietta 3, SM Mall of Asia, SM City North EDSA, Trinona), Coleman (Megamall, Galleria, Glorieta, Alabang Town Center).

Log on ww.basketballmarathon.com for more information. The event is sponsored by Mitsubishi, Yakult, Medical City, PG Flex, Gerry’s Grill, Burlington, YOutube, Acced PowerMac, Molten, Lazada, Coleman, Air Asia, Shakey’s, Iwata, Gong Cha, Aquabest, Jambe Juice, Segway, Quiznos, Innovatornix, Timex, Krispy Kreme, SL Agritech, GNC, HTC, Business World, Discovery Channel, Crocs and Pioneer Insurance.