The Philippine Basketball Association (Ottawa) launched the opening salvo of its fundraising drive with a Spring Dance attended by mostly teens but included their younger siblings and parents. It was a family spring dance event.

PBA aims to generate funds and awareness to the biggest Filipino event of the year in Ottawa. The NorthAmerican basketball tournament of PIBNA (Philippine Inter-City Basketball of North America) will be hosted by Ottawa in the summer. This will will be the 32nd year of PIBNA’s existence. Currently it is consisted of 5 Canadian Cities (Montreal,Hamilton,Ottawa,Windsor and Toronto) and at least over 9 US-based Cities (Detroit,Chicago,New York,New Jersey, Boston,Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Middlesex County (comprised of Jersey City,Central Jersey). These are the sanctioned divisions (as per PIBNA By-law):

15 yr old and under (boys)

35 yr old and older (men) - Masters

Open Competitive (men) division

Aside from the above, there are several other divisions during this tournament (as per the host Cities)...these are....

11 yr old and under (boys)

Girls division (no age limit)

13 yr old and under boys

5’10 and under (height) men

45 yr old and over (Super-Master) - Men

18, 19 , or 20 yr old and under division (this is basically as per host Cities discretion)

The tournament is scheduled to run during the Labor Day weekend (since this is the only time that both Canada and U.S. match a long-weekend holiday). Last year in New York there were at least 10 basketball gyms and over 90 (ninety) teams. This year PBA was able to secure only 9 basketball gyms (3 venues) in Gatineau-Hull.

It is a two-day event that comprises of over 3,000 participants, players, friends, family and mga kababayans. Several PBA or ex-PBA players participate in this tournament.

Golf is another sport that are being played during this weekend event. More more info visit the PBA’s website at http://pbaottawa.com