By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Top sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) reached out to the personnel of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as the chairman emeritus of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).
Pangilinan sent a letter to Hagop Khajirian, the FIBA executive director for Asia and CEO of the FIBA Asia Secretariat, and also to other personnel of FIBA who were affected by the Beirut explosion.
“It was with great sadness when I learned about the most regretful explosion in the Port of Beirut,” said Pangilinan in an emailed letter.
Aside from being the SBP president, Pangilinan is also a current FIBA Central Board member for two terms in a row already.
“I join the people of your city, and the people of Lebanon, in their hour of grief and suffering, and send to them our prayers and our thoughts,” Pangilinan added.
According to reports, some facilities and buildings affected by the strong explosions in Beirut were a part of the FIBA Asia headquarters and some national sports offices.
Former Gilas Pilipinas team captain Jimmy Alapag also sent his regards and sympathy to Lebanese legend, Fadi El Khatib.
