TACLOBAN CITY – The Eastern Visayas Basketball League (EVBL) do not only promote basketball but also tourism.
Thus said the group’s president and chief executive officer, Rey Evangelista, a former professional basketball player.
EVBL, the first amateur basketball association in Eastern Visayas which recently opened its second season dubbed as ‘Bells of Balangiga Cup’, a tribute and homage on the return of the historic bells to Balangiga, Eastern Samar province, by the American government after 117 years under their possession.
“We have this home-and-away format wherein each team will go to a particular place and of course if you go to that place, the players will have to stay there and eat in their establishments,” Evangelista said.
For this weekend, EVBL will brought the basketball teams to Abuyog, Leyte with teams Isabel Gold, Jaro Blades and Tacloban’s Birch Tree Fortified playing.
“Teams going to a particular place brings economic activities because they have to spend which provides income to the businesses in that place, and can also attract tourists,” Evangelista added.
Aside from promoting tourism, the EVBL is also a venue in promoting healthy living, he said.
Evangelista also felt grateful to An Waray party-list for their continued support to EVBL.The first season of EVBL last year was called An Waray Cup. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
