Blue Eagles and Archers add spice to PBA Legends tour by Miko Selorio

A total of sixteen teams have been selected to open up the KALAYAAN FESTIVAL – PBA LEGENDS DOWN UNDER TOUR.  Preliminary games will be played on Saturday JUNE 20 at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, including the much-anticipated blockbuster alumni rematch between schools ATENEO and LASALLE. 

For the first time, four Australian States will be represented, with Filipino basketball squads from NSW, ACT, Victoria and Queensland all participating in the opening festivities.  ACT FILCOM, playing its second year in KALAYAAN under Dennis Benedictos’ leadership, will go up against FILOPAGES-Liverpool.  Sydney’s own JAYHAWKS will challenge Brisbane, led by Billy Torrano.  The battle of champions will pit HOOPDREAMZ-AMIGOS against MELBOURNE City’s LR Team.

The opening games will feature four under-16’s youth teams, including the Visual Line-Amigos, Wildcats and the HOOPDREAMZ U-16’s of Anna Tagle. 

The over-40’s MENS will showcase two reigning league champions, the BANAG-BANAG team from Miller against FUNHAUZ of Mt Druitt.

In a surprising turn of events, ATENEO has regrouped and decided to accept the challenge from LA SALLE.  Last year saw the Green Archers pull away in the dying minutes in a close encounter against the Blue Eagles. Expect another colourful battle between the two rival groups.  This moves upstart University of the Philippines to play another newcomer, the alumni team from Macquarie University.

The main game will pit the HOOPDREAMZ-PBA LEGENDS against the AUSTRALIAN Great White Sharks.  The Philippine squad includes superstars Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras, Jerry Codinera, Nelson Asaytono, Jun Limpot, Vergel Meneses and the Living Legend, Robert Jaworski. 

Tickets are selling very fast, so hurry.  The KALAYAAN FESTIVAL-PBA Legends Tour is expected to sell out before June.  Game ka na ba?

For more information, contact info@hoopdreamz.com.au or visit www.hoopdreamz.com.au  — ?

EVENT DETAILS: KALAYAAN Festival – PBA LEGENDS (The Basketball Kings) DOWN UNDER TOUR: JUNE 20, 2009 Saturday, Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Olympic Boulevard, Olympic Park. Doors open 5:30PM. Tickets: $20 General Admission