DUBAI – The Philippine Basketball Association is in Dubai for love, not profit. PBA commissioner Chito Salud stressed this before some members of the Filipino community during the media launch of the PBA Governors Cup Middle East swing at the Asiana Hotel here.

“In terms of earning a profit, it doesn’t make much sense because we could easily make money if we were to stage these games in Manila. The PBA is in Dubai for love and affection to our countrymen,” said Salud. “We all say that the OFWs are our modern-day heroes. We don’t just pay lip service. We’re doing what we can, going out to provide them some entertainment. We are reaching out to our OFWs because we feel we owe them a debt of gratitude,” added Salud to the wild approval of the OFWs.

Sensing how the OFWs miss their motherland and what’s happening there, Salud promised this is not the last time the PBA will be here.

He has had an agreement with the local organizers, making a commitment to treat the Filipino workers here with at least a game each in the next five years.

The request came from the Dubai-based Filipino Basketball Center who actively organizes and promotes basketball events to entertain cage fans in this Middle East business hub.

The FBC, headed by Boholano Ramon Pizarras, themselves introduced Smart Gilas Pilipinas here with the Nationals making good impression not just to the OFWs but also to the locals.

PBA operations chief Rickie Santos said the league granted FBC a big discount in organizing rights just to accommodate its wish to bring the PBA back in Dubai. The PBA had its previous visit here in 2007.

The PBA is back in Dubai for a two-game special featuring elite teams Talk n Text, B-Meg and Barangay Ginebra.

The grand slam-seeking Tropang Texters play back-to-back games, taking on the Llamados Thursday (late last night in Manila) and the Kings Friday.

The Tropang Texters, at 3-0 going here, hope to return to Manila having secured a seat in the semifinal round.

The Llamados and the Kings are out to improve their chances for the semifinals that feature the last six teams (with their carry-over records) figuring in another round robin to determine who make the best-of-seven finale.

A team which notches five wins in the semis gets an automatic playoff shot at the finals regardless of its overall win-loss slate.