The Philippine Superliga (PSL) All-Filipino Conference went full blast with a dazzling show that highlighted the importance of charity and the spirit of Olympism among the country’s elite athletes yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Long jump specialist Katherine Kaye Santos, La Salle students and members of the national table tennis team personally spearheaded the solicitation of donation for the medical fund of Ian Lariba, the Rio Olympics competitor diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a deadly blood disease that put her in critical condition.
PSL president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said this is the perfect time for the local sports community to rally behind Lariba and help her overcome the biggest challenge of her life.
He stressed that this is not the first time for the country’s most prestigious women’s club league bankrolled by Rebisco, Belo and Gold’s Gym with TV5 as official broadcaster to extend its helping hand.
The PSL also extended a hand to the victims of typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban and the deadly earthquake in Bohol. It is also distributing volleyball equipment to the local government units during the Spike on Tour.
Aside from that, the league also conducts volleyball clinics and seminars and will soon establish the PSL Volleyball Academy in cooperation with Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc.
“We are one with the sports community in helping Ian Lariba overcome the biggest battle of her life,” said Suzara, adding that the league already donated half of its ticket sales of its first two playdates to Lariba’s medical fund.
