First row, from L-R: Dondon Hontiveros, KG Canaleta, Jireh Ibanes, Greg Slaughter.
Second row: Chris Tiu, Jason Castro, Calvin ABueva and Scottie Thompson.
With the Holy Week scheduled in the middle of the current 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, a lot of players have decided to stay in Manila and to escape the stress that comes from going out-of-town.
A lot of teams still scheduled team practices, allotting only a day or two for players to take a short break.
Ginebra big man Greg Slaughter is one of those guys staying behind for work.
“It’s work, so I’ll just stay here for practice.”
But for some, the staycation of sorts have also given them chance to do the daily errands they have not been able to attend due amid the grind in the PBA.
Rain or Shine’s pesky guard Jireh Ibanes shared that he’ll be busy doing house chores during the short break.
“Makakagawa rin ng gawaing bahay. Ang daming labahin eh.”
Same goes for Mahindra sniper Nino Canaleta, who will attend to his newborn baby.
“Kakapanganak lang ni misis kaya kailangan ng tulong sa bahay,” he said.
Still, there are some in the league who found time to take a quick breather the Holy Week allows.
“Pupunta lang kami ng family ko sa Batangas. Magbe-beach,” quipped Alaska’s Calvin Abueva.
Players like Dondon Hontiveros and JR Quiñahan, who both hails from Cebu, will take the opportunity to see family at their home town.
“Kasama ko lang ang family ko sa Cebu. Tradition na kasi namin na magkakasama kami pag Holy Week kasi sobrang religious ni mama ko,” the “Cebuano Hotshot” shared.
“Uuwi din ako sa Cebu kasi na-skip ko yung last year,” Quinahan said.
But not lost in all of these players is the main purpose of commemorating Holy Week.
Take for example Chris Tiu, who still has not decided where to go this Holy Week, but is sure that he’ll be doing some reflection.
“Pinagiisipan ko pa if pupunta ako sa Tagaytay or dito na lang sa Quezon City,” he said. “I’ll just go on a short retreat and recollection with family. It gives me a chance to spend time them and reflect on passion of Christ,” said Tiu.
The same goes with Ginebra rookie Scottie Thompson, who will be visiting the popular Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag.
“Pupunta kami ng Manaoag. Lagi akong nagpupunta dun pero ngayon lang natapat ng Holy Week. Bitin nga eh.”
NLEX guard Kevin Alas, alongside his father and Alaska deputy Louie, are planning to go on a quick retreat to Quezon.
“Doon kami mag-Visita Iglesia kasi doon yung province ko. Around seven to eight churches and we’ll end sa Kamay ni Hesus,” the patriarch said.
TNT’s Jayson Castro, who is from Bacolor, Pampanga native, said that he’s going back to his hometown to also do Visita Iglesia.
“Doon ako sa family ko,”he said. “Mag-Visita Iglesia din, kasi yung family ko sobrang religious. Yung mga prusisyon, lagi kaming nasa church.”