TnT plays in Guam; 2 others in Dubai

MANILA, Philippines - Talk n Text is set to play in a mini-tourney in Guam while the PBA is being invited to field two teams in the Dubai International Tournament in January, underscoring the tremendous popularity of Philippine basketball following Gilas Pilipinas’ worthy showing in the recent FIBA World Championship.

Invites for out-of-town games are also aplenty.

In fact, Barangay Ginebra, Barako Bull and Rain or Shine are also set to play in a mini tournament versus a local team in the south.

Meanwhile, four-peat champion San Mig Coffee and Globalport will do a series of tune-up matches in Korea as part of their buildup for PBA Season 40 that fires off Oct. 19.

Before the Asian Games, most of the PBA teams hosted tune-up matches versus the Kuwaiti and the Qatari national teams. The two Middle East squads pitched camp in the country in the last stage of their preparations for the Incheon Asiad.

Talk n Text vies for honors in the Guam invitationals in the first week of October.

Still up for approval of the PBA board is the league’s participation in the Dubai meet in January which is in conflict with the PBA Philippine Cup.

“The Dubai invite has been tabled for discussion in the PBA board of governors planning session in Korea,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud in a letter to Soran Savic, chief executive officer and founder of Dubai’s Basicball Academy.

“Off hand, however, the period of Jan. 17-26 will be difficult for the PBA since this will coincide with our Philippine Cup,” Salud also said.

PBA officials said these invites clearly indicate the soaring popularity of Philippine basketball.

PBA board chairman Patrick Gregorio is confident the fans’ good reception of Gilas Pilipinas’ showing in the FIBA World Cup will redound to the success of the coming PBA season.