Senator Joel Villanueva leads a team of legends in Philippine basketball as they face councilors of the City of Manila in a charity basketball game today at the San Andres Sports Complex.
Game time is 2 p.m., the highlight of day-long festivities that Villanueva organized as part of his thanksgiving celebration to mark his 44th birthday recently. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is expected to lead the ceremonial jump ball.
“Nagagalak po tayo sa ating munting palaro kasama ang mga kaibigan nating PBA Legends at mga konsehal ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Espesyal ang laro na ito dahil magpapaabot po tayo ng tulong sa ating mga nakatatanda na kasalukuyang tumutuloy sa Boystown,” Villanueva said in a statement.
The senator, who hails from Bocaue, Bulacan, explained that he held Manila a special place in his life because he spent his formative years in the capital studying at the University of Santo Tomas.
“Nagtitiwala po tayo sa pamunuan ng City Hall na determinadong pasiglahin muli ang kabisera ng ating bayan, tulad ng nakagisnan natin noong nag-aaral po tayo sa UST,” continued Villanueva, who suited up for the Growling Tigers during their magical run in the 1990s at the UAAP collegiate wars. He was part of the team that strung together four straight UAAP men’s basketball championships starting in 1993, an unprecedented feat that time.
“Seeing how City Hall works harder to put order in the city and bring crucial social services to the people is inspiring, and this should be emulated by our colleagues in other local governments,” he added.
Villanueva’s team is bannered by four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio, sharpshooter Allan Caidic, and court general Johnny Abarrientos, as well as celebrities Matt Evans, Joross Gamboa, and EA Guzman.
Meanwhile, the Batang Maynila team features incumbent city councilors like Councilor Terrence Alibarbar, who runs a grass roots basketball program in Manila’s third district to promote physical fitness among residents there.
Proceeds of the benefit game will go to the city-run Manila Boystown Inc., the city’s social welfare arm that cares for abandoned children and the elderly.
The game is open to the public, Villanueva said.