Ex-PBA import joins ‘All In’ cage event

MANILA, Philippines - A former PBA import, whose injury shortened his stint with Barako Bull Energy in 2012, gets to strut his wares before local fans in  the PCWorx “All In” Charity Basketball Event at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.

This as Accel, the official outfitter of the event, underscored its full support for the event, set to start at 7 p.m. with former National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player Allen Iverson dishing out his coaching skills in the event staged for the benefit of Gawad Kalinga.

DerMarr Johnson was a former Barako Bull Energy import in 2012 but failed to showcase his strength as an injury cut short his stint with the Energy. But on Wednesday night, he gets that chance to play solid basketball before Filipino fans.

“I have very fond memories of the Philippines. I’m most looking forward to once again interacting with the fans, and seeing the friends I made there that I haven’t seen in a while,” Johnson said. “Filipino fans know basketball and they love basketball. All the people there treated me nice and made my time there really easy. ‘Can’t wait to be back.”

Sporteum Philippines Inc. president Willie Ortiz, meanwhile, stressed the company’s full support for the event that will also be highlighted by a basketball clinic, shoot-around contest, an auction and a 3x3 tournament with the former Philadelphia 76ers superstar Iverson as the main draw.

“This charity event will touch the lives of people through basketball and it’s an honor to be a part of this worthy cause,’’ Ortiz said. Sporteum Philippines Inc. is the maker of Accel, the top local sports apparel brand committed to help the Filipino athlete.

Johnson and fellow former NBA star, Eddy Curry, will be reinforcing Team PCWorx, which will be handled by two-time PBA grand slam coach Tim Cone, according to PCWorx managing director Michael Angelo Chua.

Team PCWorx will be bannered by UAAP and NCAA as well as former PBA stars including brothers Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena of Ateneo, Jeron Teng and Almond Vosotros of De La Salle, Troy Rosario of National University and Mark Belo of Far Eastern University, as well as NCAA five-peat champion team San Beda’s Javee Mocon and Ola Adeogun and San Sebastian’s Jaymar Perez. Former PBA stars Jerry Codiñera, Renren Ritualo and two-time MVP Willie Miller are also reinforcing the team.

The Iverson-coached Ball Up Streetball All Stars is made up of Grayson “The Professor” Boucher, Larry “Bone Collector” Williams, Taurian “Air Up There” Fontanette, Gary “G-Smith” Smith, Aaron “AO” Owens, Anthony “Mr. Afrika” Pimble and Ryan “Special FX” Williams.

Iverson and Cone will hold a youth basketball clinic for those aged 10 to 15 at the Gawad Kalinga Bulaklakan Chapter in Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City on Nov.  4.

The event is backed by Philippine Airlines, NBA Café Manila, Solaire Resort and Casino, Samsung, Intel, Microsoft, PhilCare, Canon, Rapoo, Accel, and the Mall of Asia Arena.

 Tickets are still available online at www.smtickets.com, all SM Tickets outlets, and select PCWorx branches in Metro Manila.