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PH, France celebrate ties with League 75 Exhibition Games

Sports | Basketball

PH, France celebrate ties with League 75 Exhibition Games

By Reynald I. Magallon

As part of the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the diplomatic relation between France and the Philippines, the League 75 France-Philippines basketball exhibition games between French team ASVEL-Lyon, PBA teams Blackwater and NLEX and EASL squad Bay Area Dragons will be played from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

(From the left ) NLEX big man Asi Taulava, head coach Yeng Guiao, French Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. MME. Michele Boccoz and Blackwater bosses Dioceldo Sy and Silliman Sy (Photo from NLEX Road Warriors)

ASVEL, the winningest club in French basketball owned by retired NBA champion Tony Parker, will take on the Dragons first on Aug. 31, then NLEX on Sept. 2, and the games host Blackwater in the final day on Sept. 4.

“With ASVEL here, I believe it will totally change the paradigm of basketball. We’re looking forward to the adjustments of our play," said Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy during the press conference at the Novotel Hotel on Wednesday, Aug. 10.

Also gracing the event were NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao and Bay Area Dragons General Manager Liu Quansheng and the French Ambassador to the Philippines Michèle Boccoz who lauded the strong and harmonious relationship between the two nations especially in the field of sports.

Sy added that playing ASVEL will help the Bossing, the Road Warriors and the Dragons with their preparations for the 2022 Commissioners’ Cup which is set to fire off on Sept. 21.

“Asvel is a big challenge for us. Knowing that Bay Area Dragons will also join, it will be a very good training ground for every PBA team,” he added.

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