THE Rain or Shine Elasto Painters have confirmed a 12-player line-up that will be arriving in the kingdom tomorrow to participate in the eighth Bahrain-Philippines Basketball Goodwill Games.
The event is scheduled to take place over two days on Thursday and Friday at Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam.
The Elasto Painters, a professional team from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), will play a pair of exhibition contests to the delight of their fans. They first take on local Bahraini club Nuwaidrat on Thursday night at 8pm, and then face off with Bahrain’s senior men’s national team on Friday at 7.30pm.
The Elasto Painters feature a hugely talented squad that includes the likes of Paul Lee, Beau Belga, Jeff Chan, and Chris Tiu.
The rest of the line-up that will be participating in the Goodwill Games comprises Jireh Ralph Ibanes, Jericho Cruz, Jeric Teng, Joseph Quinahan, Raymond Almazan, Jewel Ponferrada, Maverick Ahanmisi and Celedonio Trollano.
Popular forward Gabe Norwood will not be in Bahrain as he is a part of the Philippine national team currently competing in the 2015 Fiba Asia Championship in China. Guard Ryan Arana was also originally scheduled be with the Elasto Painters in the kingdom, but he was recently traded to a different PBA team.
Renowned Filipino tactician Yeng Guiao will be coaching the Elasto Painters. Carlos Garcia and Mike Buendia are his assistants.
Exhibition
Prior to both the Elasto Painters’ games, exhibition contests between local Filipino teams will also be played. On Thursday, Barangay Selection take on NSA at 6pm, followed on Friday by LBC Tamaraws taking on Fil-Am at 5.30pm.
Meanwhile, the Elasto Painters will also be taking part in a basketball clinic organised in cooperation with the Filipino Club Basketball Group. This will be held on Saturday between 8am and 12noon and it will also feature the Bahrain Stallions team.
Tickets to the highly anticipated Goodwill Games are selling fast so fans are advised to pick theirs up at the soonest to avoid disappointment. Seating at the venue will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tickets cost BD3 per day. They can be bought at the following outlets: Shaflout, Bahay Kubo, Chukay, Rocks Bakery, NAFEX Juffair, Kowloon Hoora, La Custotera and Uniform Sports Avenue.
The Goodwill Games are being held under the patronage of the Bahrain Basketball Association and are being presented by Houras Consultancy and Uniform Sports Avenue.
Major Sponsors: Zain, Metrobank Nafex, Robinson’s Land Corp., Jollibee and LBC.
Supporting sponsors: Nescafe, Lost Paradise, Casa Mexicana, Sticky Finger, Chukay, Bahay Kubo, GF Corner, Golden Saloon, Pars Hotel, World Travel Services, Arwa Water.
Special thanks to: The Philippine Embassy, Pinay Ikaw Na, Fil-Am and FCBG.