Former PBA stars so in-demand overseas

PBA legends are very much in-demand for exhibition games in places overseas which account for substantial Filipino communities.

This month alone, I know of three different groups that will travel to three different continents: North America, Europe and Asia.

I wrote about the Middle East-bound group, led by Seattle-based Abe King, in a previous column. He will be joined by the likes of Marlou Aquino, Bal David and EJ Feihl on a three-city tour which will take them to Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

Tomorrow, another group of legends flies to Austria to play a game. The group includes Noli Locsin, Bonel Balingit, Bal David, who is also in the Middle East lineup, and Jerry Codiñera, who will also travel to Canada with another batch of former PBA superstars.

Kenneth Duremdes told me at Smart Araneta Coliseum last Sunday that he will be with Jerry and the rest of the group that will make stops at Calgary, Alberta and Edmonton in Canada.

The star-studded batch includes Alvin Patrimonio, Allan Caidic, Jojo Lastimosa, Vergel Meneses, Dindo Pumaren, Nelson Asaytono, and Johnny Abarrientos.

Among other places, the legends have been to Australia, Britain, New Zealand, Dubai and the United States.

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Speaking of former pro stars, PBA Legends Foundation USA secretary general Ruffy Ignacio has forwarded an email sent to him by Maridol Guidaben, wife of Abet Guidaben who is confined in the ICU of a hospital in New Jersey.

Maridol is asking for prayers for Abet who she said has a neuromuscular disease called myasthenia gravis, whose symptoms include eye weakness, facial expression weakness, and difficulty swallowing.

On his flight back to the United States after a visit to the Philippines some months ago, Abet suffered a stroke, followed by a second attack in New Jersey. The doctors determined that the stroke was triggered by cerebral meningitis.

Maridol said Abet was in rehab when he was rushed back to the hospital because he was having difficulty breathing.

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Kenneth leaves for Canada on Oct. 24, his conflict with the Powerade management, as well as those of 10 others in the former Powerade team, still unresolved.

“We have sent the Powerade management a demand letter, asking that they honor our contracts, most of which are still good up to the end of this season,” Kenneth said.

“The group is willing to settle for 75 percent of what is stipulated in the contract, but management wants to pay us only one month’s salary for every year of service.”

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WBO president Paco Varcarcel was all praises for Nonito Donaire Jr. after his demolition of veteran Japanese southpaw Toshiaki Nishioka.

Varcarcel said the “Filipino Flash” is a worthy successor to “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao. He said Nonito possesses amazing hand speed and power and is an intelligent, thinking fighter.