5.08 PM Thursday, 28 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:57 06:11 12:27 15:53 18:37 19:51
28 March 2024

Pacquiao heading to Dubai for Philippines Basketball Cup

Manny Pacquiao attends a news conference in Los Angeles, California in this March 11, 2015 file photo. (Reuters)

Published
By Allaam Ousman

Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao will be the star attraction at a basketball championship to be held in Dubai next month.

Pacquiao will lead Mahindra Enforcers as player-coach in the Philippines Basketball Cup 2016 to be held at Al Wasl Club on November 6 and 7.

The event is organised by the Clique Events CO, the Official Overseas Game Organiser of PBA in UAE, in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council, and dU as the main presenter.

Mahindra Enforcers, Alaska Aces and Barangay Ginebra, which are considered three of the best basketball teams in the Philippine league. will be competing for honours.

The tournament is expected to attract a large number of Filipino basketball lovers and fans of the participating teams, as well as fans of eight-division world champion Pacquiao who featured in the 'Fight of the Century' with American Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao is the second highest-paid athlete in the world, according to Forbes magazine list for 2015, with an annual income of $160 Million, which is larger than the combined income of two top football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

'Pacman', who underwent surgery on his right shoulder after the May 2 fight, is in talks with Briton Amir Khan for a comeback fight next year which is likely to take place in the Gulf.

"We are delighted to collaborate with du and Clique Events in organising this great event, which will provide a great opportunity for both boxing and basketball lovers alike, and for Filipinos expats in Dubai in general, allowing them to enjoy the matches and watch Pacquiao in a different sport," Said Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Sports Events Director in Dubai Sports Council.

Al Rahma also noted that the Pacquiao comes to Dubai as part of the city’s approach to host some of the most prominent names in the sports world and hosting big sports events that promote Dubai standing in the sports world.

“Adding life-to-life across the wide variety of segments of UAE society is something that we, at du, are extremely passionate about. We are surprising fans around the region this year, by not only bringing their favourite basketball players and teams to Dubai, but by hosting the Pacquiao himself as part of the sporting event,” said Hala Badri, Executive Vice President, Brand and Communication, du.

Carlo Zozobrado, Operations Manager Clique Events, expressed his delight to organise this unique sporting event, indicating that the Clique Events took the opportunity of organising the Philippines Cup Basketball Championship, and the participation of the team that Pacquiao coaches and plays for.

He added: "This is the second time we organise the Philippines Basketball Cup in of Dubai, and have received a great help from all government institutions in Dubai."