The PBA Legends Foundation, Inc. will be holding the 2nd PBA Legends Charity golf tournament on May 9 at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Cavite. Expected to join the 18-hole tourney, sponsored by OKBet, are various basketball personalities and celebrities in the celluloid world.
The tournament is a fund-raising event organized to provide medical assistance and support to former PBA players who are struggling to sustain their medical needs.
The first PBA Legends golf tournament was held at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club back in July 2018.
It was in 2015 when various PBA legends came up with a charity event to raise funds and provide medical assistance for San Miguel Beer superstar, Avelino “Samboy” Lim. Lim suffered cardiac arrest and lost consciousness during a basketball game held in Pasig City on November, 2014. The event inspired the retired players to create the Foundation.
PBA Legends Foundation, Inc. chairman, Fortunato “Atoy” Co, Jr. told The Rivalry the importance of holding regular events for a cause. “Maraming former players ang nangangailangan ng tulong, lalo na marami sa kanila ang naapektuhan ng pandemic. We need to make sure na meron kaming sufficient funds para makapagbigay ng konting assistance sa kanilang medical needs.”
Cordero explained how this event came about. “This is all Atoy’s idea. Because of the pandemic, many of us have not had the opportunity to see one another. This event is like hitting two birds with one stone – we get a chance to mingle once more with our friends and colleagues in a social event, and we still end up raising funds that can help our former teammates and basketball colleagues for their medical needs.” Cordero also assured that there would be future events by the Legends Foundation “as long as there’s still one player in dire need of help.”
During the pandemic, the Foundation offered signed replica jerseys of ten PBA legends for sale. These included Crispa jerseys from Co, Philip Cezar and Bogs Adornado, Toyota and San Miguel Beer jerseys of Ramon Fernandez, Purefoods’ jerseys of Alvin Patrimonio and Jerry Codiñera, Alaska and Purefoods jerseys of Jojo Lastimosa, Alaska and Ginebra jerseys of Johnny Abarrientos, and San Miguel Beer jerseys of Allan Caidic and Lim. The jerseys are still available while orders are still being received through the PBA Legends Foundation Facebook page.
Raffle prizes will also be given out to those who will be part of the tournament. A modest Php 6,000 fee will be charged for each participant. Those interested to join and be part of this special cause may contact organizer Carl Dela Peña at 0917-5101508 or Atoy Co at 0917 8836669.
Aside from Co, the other officers of the Foundation are Patrimonio as President, Cezar as Vice President, Cordero as Corporate Secretary, Lastimosa as Treasurer, and Caidic, Fernandez, Codiñera, Adornado, Abarrientos, Ronnie Magsanoc, Pido Jarencio, Kenneth Duremdes, and Art Dela Cruz as Board Members.
Co and Cordero recently signed a partnership deal with online gaming platform OKBet, which will serve as one of the tournament’s major sponsor. They were welcomed at the company’s head office in Alabang by company officials led by their Brand Director, Chris Cañadella.