Wednesday, March 05, 2008 After Gin Kings, Jewelers want more
AFTER two successful promotions in just a span of 11 days, the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Jewelers are eyeing one more PBA team to play an exhibition game in front of the Cebuanos.
M. Lhuillier head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba told reporters last Monday night that in his recent talk with another PBA squad, the latter signified strong intentions to come and play against the Jewelers in a friendly match.
“We will try to bring another PBA team here and hopefully our negotiations will go well. If this can be pushed through, we are eying to hold the game before the end of the month,” Alcoseba said.
Alcoseba will be formally announcing what team and the date of the game next week.
For the past 11 days, Cebuanos were treated with very competitive exhibition matches, first with the Jewelers playing the Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals last Feb. 21 and the PBA’s most popular team, Ginebra Gin Kings, last Monday.
In both occasions, the coliseum was full of fans enjoying the chance to see a PBA team play against a commercial team from Cebu.
Alcoseba, however, said that proceeds of the games will go to the coffers of the BAP-SBP Visayas for the implementation of its projects for the development of grassroots basketball in the Visayas.
It also gave opportunity to the PBA teams to reach out to their fans in Cebu, who are among the rabid basketball followers in the country.
For the Jewelers, it also sharpened their game as they are looking forward to the nationwide regional-based tournament—the Liga ng Pilipinas, which is set to start before the end of April. (RCM)
