Bicol Basketball Tour

The Book of Hope All-Star Team successfully concluded a two-week tour of the Bicol Region. The team led by K.P. Westmoreland and former PBA star Joe Ward played 22 games and conducted some 14 basketball clinics.

Sorsogon, Iriga, Daei, Legazpi City and 15 other Bicol region communities hosted the Book of Hope All-Star Team. In two of the capitol cities they were welcomed by the Provincial Governors. In each location the team was invited to a meal with the town mayor.

This major tour was coordinated with the Book of Hope distribution in the schools in each city and town where the team was scheduled to play. Josepha Dasco, Book of Hope Bicol Region Coordinator, and Dave Toledo, Bicol Region AoG District Youth Director, made necessary advance preparations for the Book of Hope distributions and basketball tour.

Naga City councilman Jun Labadia oraganized all the basketball clinics and games for the team as well as motorcades and meetings with the various city and provincial officials. Jun is the Bicol regional commisioner for the Basketball Association of the Philippines(BAP). Advertisement for these event was provided by Unilab, a major Philippines pharmaceutical company.

During each half-time break, Book of Hope All-Star team members clearly and powerfully presented the gospel. At one of these events the regional BAP commisioner and his wife stood along with many high school and elementary students to ask Jesus in their lives.

Total attendance at the games exceeded 30,000. Over 20,000 pieces of evangelistic basketball cards promoting www.hopenet.net were distributed together with the Book of Hope, as well as thousands of salvation bracelets.