SMC clubs stand united, raise funds for COVID-19 frontliners

There is no love lost when San Miguel, Ginebra, and Magnolia face each other on the hardcourt. They would let go of company lines just to get that victory.

But in the midst of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, all three PBA club teams owned by the San Miguel Corporation stand united.

All of them want to show the country’s frontliners that they are not alone.

All three teams released videos paying tribute to the health workers who have worked tirelessly during the past three weeks.

“Sa lahat ng frontliners natin, salamat sa sakripisyo ninyo,” said San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo, the league’s only six-time MVP.

“Kayo ang tunay na Most Valuable Players naming mga Pilipino.”

“Patuloy po nating tulungan ang mga doktor, nurse, at mga frontliners natin. Stay home and be healthy. Siyempre, pagdasal na rin natin ang kaligtasan nila. Sana araw-araw ay magkaroon sila ng lakas para maproteksyonan ang ating bansa,” expressed Ginebra’s LA Tenorio.

“Makaka-asa po kayo na ang mga ka-barangay niyo sa Ginebra ay patuloy na tutulong para mabawasan ang inyong mga iniisip sa pang-araw-araw. Mabuhay po kayo at mag-ingat po kayo.”

“Pinagpre-pray namin kayo everyday. Sana bigyan kayo ni Lord ng lakas ng katawan. Alam namin na sobrang pagod na kayo at hindi niyo rin po nakikita ‘yung family niyo. Sobrang salamat po dahil alam naming sobrang hirap ng ginagawa niyo,” shared Magnolia’s Marc Pingris, a Gilas Pilipinas icon.

“Nandiyan talaga yung puso niyo na tumulong para sa mga tao.”

“Thank you po sa lahat ng frontliners. Sa lahat ng medical workers, doctors, at nurses, lahat kayo salamat,” added Pingris’ wife Danica Sotto.

Indeed, all three squads went all-out in showing their support for the country’s health workers both here and abroad.

Other members of the Barangay in the video were Prince Caperal, Japeth Aguilar, Joe Devance, Mark Caguioa, and Scottie Thompson.

Fajardo was joined by fellow Beermen Arwind Santos, Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter and his kids, Mo Tautuaa, and Terrence Romeo.

The other Hotshots in the video were Paul Lee, Ian Sangalang, Mon Abundo, Rome Dela Rosa, and assistant coach Johnny Abarrientos.

To help, all three squads pooled their money together to raise funds for the country’s frontliners.

“Kami po sa San Miguel group, ang Ginebra, San Miguel, at Magnolia, ay nag-usap usap po. Kami po ay mag-raise ng funds para sa inyo,” said SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua. “Sa maliit po na maitutulong po namin sa inyo, sana po ay makatulong ito sa inyong mga trabaho at sa pagligtas ng mga Filipino.

“Maraming salamat at saludo ako sa inyo. Hindi ko po alam kung paano ma-express ito pero kayo po ang tunay na matatapang.”

“Sa lahat po ng frontliners natin sa bansa, salamat po sa sakripisyo ninyo. Kami po ay patuloy na nagre-raise ng funds para sa inyo. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa mga ginawa niyong tulong para sa bansa natin,” said Lee.

“Kayo po ang aming tunay na hero.”

“We appreciate all your efforts and sacrifices. Hindi madali tong ginagawa niyo. For us, as a team, we will continue to support you and help raise funds para makatulong kami,” added Ginebra icon Caguioa.

“We will get by this.”

Besides this, every member of the three teams will continue to pray for the well-being of our modern-day heroes in their war against an invisible opponent.

“Sobrang na-appreciate po namin ‘yung ginagawa niyo. Alam namin na hindi ganun kadali ang sakripisyo na ginagawa niyo,” shared former league MVP Santos.

“Kaya kami po ay taimtim naming pinagdadasal — na sana po na bigyan kayo ng Panginoon ng lakas at talino para sugpuin ang kumakalat ng coronavirus. Saludo po kami.”