Former NBA superstar Allen Iverson. AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – He will be the answer that charity brings.
National Basketball Association icon Allen Iverson is set to cross over to the country to put on some “inspiring” hoops action, according to his manager in a phone patch interview Friday.
Iverson will be in the Philippines on November 3 for a three-day event featuring a basketball game on November 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena, where Iverson will coach the streetball artisans from And1 against the young stars and legends of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletics Association of the Philippines, and Philippine Basketball Association who will be coached by local legend – Allan Caidic.
Iverson will spearhead a charity partnership between Gawad Kalinga and electronics outlet PCWorx.
Gary Moore, Iverson’s manager, said in a phone patch that The Answer was “very excited” and “looks forward” to a wonderful time in the Philippines.
Other former NBA players who will join Iverson are guard Stephon Marbury and center Eddy Curry.
And1 streetballers Air Up There, Bone Collector, G Smith, The Professor, AO and Mr. Afrika will also join the fray.
PCWorx President Jake Oh said in a press conference Friday at the SM Aura at the Fort Bonifacio Global City that the charity event would “help the people change their lives for the better.”
“We would help them to survive on their own, not just dole outs,” Oh said. “We would equip them with a good and decent house.”
Oh’s company trained a Gawad Kalinga village in Quezon City for their citizens to join the Business Processing Outsource industry.
PCWorx Managing Director Michael Chua said that they have doubts if the event would push through though their “burning desire in helping communities” would empower them.
Though Iverson will not play, he is set to conduct clinics during his stay and put on a crossover cinema in the halftime break of the November 5 exhibition.