Opening goes global

By Joel Orellana
Business Mirror
October 12, 2007

The opening ceremonies of the 33rd season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Sunday will have an international taste.

PBA officer-in-charge Sonny Barrios told BusinessMirror The Filipino Channel (TFC) will beam the two-hour extravaganza live in different parts of the world to cater the basketball-loving Filipinos abroad.

“I don’t know if this is the first time we’ll be doing that because I’ve been out for a while,” said Barrios yesterday.

“Our opening ceremonies will be beamed live through TFC and it will be a great reward for our kababayans abroad,” Barrios added.

The TFC, the international television provider of network giant ABS-CBN, will broadcast live the opening ceremonies in major parts of the world like the Gulf States, Chicago, New Jersey, New York, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Europe.

Television hosts and comedians Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola of Eat Bulaga! will emcee the opening ceremonies, which will start at 4:30 in the afternoon.

Multiawarded singer Kyla will be singing the national anthem while Filipino world boxing champion Gerry Peñalosa and bowling great Paeng Nepomuceno have confirmed their attendance.

Peñalosa will be honored for capturing the World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight title over Mexican Jhonny Gonzales via a seventh-round stoppage in the World Cup of Boxing on August 11 in Las Vegas.

The 50-year-old Nepomuceno, the four-time World Cup champion, will also be feted after ruling the 2007 Columbia 3000 South Pacific in Melbourne, Australia.

Barrios said People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao, who just arrived yesterday after winning the World Boxing Council (WBC) International super-featherweight crown against Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera, has yet to confirm his attendance.

“Kararating lang ni Manny kaya hindi pa namin alam kung matutuloy siya sa opening but we are all hoping,” Barrios said.

After the ceremonies, which will have its traditional parade of teams together with their respective muses, Magnolia (formerly San Miguel Beer) and Air21 square off in the lone game at 6:30 p.m..

Barrios did not prepare a long speech for the opening rites. “It will be short and sweet. Siguro mga three sentences lang. I’ll just welcome everyone who will be there,” said Barrios.

PBA board chairman Tony Chua of Red Bull will declare the 33rd season open. If he accepts the invitation, Pacquiao, together with Nepomuceno and Peñalosa, will do the ceremonial toss in the game between the Beverage Masters and the Express.