The Philippine Basketball Association demonstrated its commitment to community service by organizing a major relief operation in Liloan, Cebu, bringing essential aid to families severely affected by recent typhoons.
Basketball Stars Deliver Hope to Disaster Victims
TNT Tropang Giga players Calvin Oftana and Roger Pogoy served as ambassadors for the humanitarian mission, personally distributing relief goods to affected families in Barangay Cotcot. The PBA delegation provided crucial supplies including rice, blankets, mats, slippers, and other basic commodities to approximately 1,500 beneficiaries in the area.
Liloan was identified as one of the municipalities hardest hit by Typhoon Tino in Cebu province, making the relief operation particularly timely and necessary for the community's recovery efforts.
Community Collaboration Makes Relief Possible
The successful charity initiative was made possible through the assistance of Christine Desiderio, mother of former PBA player Paul Desiderio and a native of Liloan, along with former Batang Gilas team manager Andrew Teh. Their local knowledge and connections helped ensure the relief goods reached those most in need.
Local government units in Cebu also played a vital role in facilitating the project, demonstrating how collaboration between sports organizations and local authorities can effectively address community needs during times of crisis.
PBA's Expanding Role in Philippine Society
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial emphasized that the league's responsibility extends beyond providing entertainment through basketball. "This is what we were saying before that we will help those affected by typhoons," Marcial stated, highlighting the association's commitment to supporting Filipinos in times of need.
The relief drive forms part of the league's Corporate Social Responsibility program under Alagang PBA, particularly significant as the organization celebrates its golden anniversary season. This initiative reinforces the PBA's role as not just a sports entertainment provider but as an active participant in nation-building and disaster response.
As the PBA marks fifty years of Philippine basketball, this relief operation in Cebu demonstrates how the league continues to evolve its community engagement, using its platform and resources to make a tangible difference in the lives of Filipinos facing adversity.
