Smart Communications Inc., gathered esteemed sports personalities, media, and special guests for a friendly round of golf games and a day of fellowship for the Philippine sports community at the Smart Sports Invitational, held recently at The Orchard Golf and Country Club in Cavite.
The event also served as a jump-off point for promoting Smart’s involvement in the FIBA
World Cup Draw, which took on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum; and the FIBA in Manila Draw Festival, an all-day street festival celebrating the Filipinos’ love for basketball through performances, activations, and other exciting basketball-themed activities.
Hosted by television presenter and athlete Gretchen Ho and PLDT First Vice President – Head of Sports and Executive Director of MVP Sports Foundation Mr. Jude Turcuato, the Smart Sports Invitational welcomed esteemed guests and discussed the partnership between FIBA and Smart and presented the available FIBA merchandise to the invitational participants. Smart took charge of several key promotional activities leading to the draw and games, including the 3D billboard activation, EDSA “shootboard”, and FIBA-themed bus waiting sheds within Bonifacio Global City.
The invitational also revealed the remaining key events for FIBA in the Philippines, as discussed by Erika Dy, Deputy Event Director – Local Organizing Committee, FIBA World Cup 2023. These include the 100-day game countdown and individual game ticket launch in May, the launch of the Philippine Basketball Hall of Fame in July, and the World Congress for FIBA delegates in August leading to the games.
The FIBA World Cup Draw is the final stop before the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in August.
Daniel Peters and Sean Ty combined for a spectacular 11-under-par 61 to win Division 1 of the tournament. Peter and Ty beat Juanchit Jose and Joey Anciano by five shots to take home the championship trophy.
Special guests were Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Richard “Dickie” Bachmann, Chairperson of the Philippine House Committee on Youth and Sports Development and Congressman Faustino Michael Dy of the 6th district of Isabela, Philippine Fencing Association President Richard Gomez, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association President Chito Loyzaga, and Philippine Football Federation President Nonong Araneta.
