Basketball is a formidable staple in our culture. A most popular sport that everyone, in their life, has had the opportunity to play. From kids to adults to men and women, every Filipino loves basketball and of course, play basketball. Those who cannot help but dribble with both hands end up having a team to support and root for whenever they are playing.
Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao’s Grand Pavilion, last Wednesday, August 29, was transformed into a most beautiful luau venue that got every single one in attendance excited and ready to party. Decked in the most colorful of colors, tiki statues and flower garlands, the venue certainly elevated the mood and kicked the festivities in an instant.
From a far, the pavilion exuded a mardi gras like vibe that included beats, drums and squeels from guests who cannot help but be amased of the transformation. The pavilion was not only decked in true-to-life decors but more so, a plentiful of fresh fruits and food from every corner. Truly, showcasing the bountiful harvest that we have.
In attendance were a variety of individuals — from locals to local visitors and of course, basketball players from the different Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MBPL) teams. Roaming around the venue were the players from the Pasig Pirates – Gameville, Rizal Crusaders – Xentro Mall, Valenzuela Idol Cheesedogs and homegrown, Davao Occidental Cocolife Tigers.
Claudine Bautista, the night’s hostess and team owner of the Davao Occidental Cocolife Tigers, welcomed everyone to a night of fellowship, celebration and camaraderie as teams from different parts of Manila, guests from all over the country and friends from Davao Occidental and all over Mindanao came together for a night of fun, laughter and good food. “Tonight, all I want is for everyone to enjoy. I really want this to create friendship and camaraderie amongst the team”, Bautista said.
Bautista then thanked her major sponsors who, together with her beloved Davao Occidental Tigers, made this fellowship a possibility. To state, Transcycle provided the motorcycle, as the grand prize, for the raffle, Cocolife which gave a couple of insurances, San Miguel Global Power, Mobile Networks & MyPhone and the finance department of Bautista’s company.
“This is our very first home game and being the only Davao team in the MPBL we want this to be special for our fans,” Bautista said.
The night turned up to be colorful and festive. It was a night where everyone was just having fun – notwitstanding the game these teams will be playing the following day. “Thank you for accepting my invitation to come here and play. To Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), thank you for holding a game in Davao. To everyone, thank you and enjoy the night”, Baustista said.
Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MBPL) is a regional men’s semi-professional basketball league in the Philippines launched by Senator Manny Pacquiao last August 2017. Originating with 10 teams, after its first successful season, it then attracted teams from Visayas and Mindanao. To date, MBPL has 15 teams.
