“HINDI man kami maging champion, gusto naming maging champion sa pagtulong.”
That’s how Yeng Guiao, general manager and head coach of the NLEX Road Warriors, described his group’s involvement in the relief operations for the fire victims of Las Pinas recently held at the STI Academic Center in Alabang Zapote, Las Pinas.
The event jointly organized by the STI Academic Center and the Philippine Basketball Association to help the fire victims of Barangay Daniel Fernando, was graced by Guiao, a six-time PBA champion coach, and his players from the Road Warriors – Rabeh-Al Hussaini and Juami Tiongson.
Families of the fire victims were provided 100 bag of goodies donated by the PBA, headed by Commissioner Chito Narvasa, deputy commissioner and head of operations Rickie Santos and Media Bureau chief Willie Marcial.
In one rare occasion, a key personnel from the rival group, four-time PBA MVP, Hall of Famer and league’s 40 Greatest member Alvin Patrimonio, joined Guiao and his players, who were altogether welcomed by the STI Las Pinas community, headed by Liz Acedo, the deputy school administrator, Grace Gutierrez, the head of the academics and Bernadette Rejano, the head of the student affairs office. Tourism and HRM students of STI Las Pinas also cooked and prepared snacks for the guests.
“Si Alvin Patrimonio, hindi po namin siya kasama sa NLEX, pero pagdating po sa pagtulong, magkakampi po kami,” added Guiao as he addressed the fire victims who took part in this event also supported by LGR.
Fire struck the barangay last July 19, leaving 60 families homeless and damaging 34 houses.
Representatives of the victims gathered and got the chance to see up close and personal these PBA personalities.
“Let us not lose hope. There’s still life ahead of us. We’ll be able to endure this. Let’s continue to work hard and get ourselves up,” added Patrimonio.