A charity golf tournament that seeks to help retired players who saw action for teams in the Philippine Basketball Association is in the works.
Organized by the Samahan ng mga Dating Propesyonal na Basketbolista Foundation Inc., the one-day event gets going on July 26 at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong.
“Isa itong paraan para makatulong sa mga pangangailangan ng mga retiradong player,” said the foundation’s chairman Atoy Co, who was a guest with Allan Caidic and Ed Cordero earlier at the weekly PSA Forum at the Tapa King Restaurant in Farmer’s Cubao.
The tournament will be known as the first PBA Legends Golf Tournament.
Former players in the PBA are among those organizing the golfest as a way of reaching out to their colleagues in need.
Co said their efforts started in 2016 when he was a commissioner of the UNTV.
Back then, UNTV president and CEO Daniel Razon broached the idea to Co as a way to help players who are no longer active.
Co said that during that time, players in the PBA were not fortunate to have such a high salary that the present crop of players gets.
He said the case of Samboy Lim when he had a cardiac arrest was among their inspirations.
When Lim needed funds for his therapy, sponsors came forward, but not all former pros are as popular as him, hence the creation of this project.