As much as the fans PBA Legends coach Derick Pumaren said he and the rest of his team are excited about their trip to Saudi Arabia for the three-day PBA Legends exhibition tour which kicks off in Dammam next week.

Abdul Aziz “Jawo” Dizon, CEO of the organizing Coordinations Est. for Event Planning and Organization (CEEPO), told Arab News he talked by long distance telephone to Pumaren who intimated the visiting team of retired PBA stars are looking forward to put on a good show for the basketball fans expected to attend the games to be played at three venues across the major cities of the Kingdom.

Dizon said Pumaren and the players are deep in preparation for the big event adding the Legends team will have a practice game Saturday in Manila.

According to Dizon, former Barangay Ginebra star Vince Hizon is very happy that he will be coming back to the Kingdom along with Noli “The Tank” Locsin, Marlou “Skyscraper” Aquino, and the 7-foot-1 behemoth EJ Feihl following their first visit in the last quarter of 2012.

“We are here again committed to give our best to make you all happy,” Hizon was quoted as saying.

Alvin “The Captain” Patrimonio, who is admittedly the biggest name on the team, is confirmed to join the trip, his first to Saudi Arabia. “I am glad I was included on this star studded team. At long last it’s finally on,” Patrimonio said in Filipino.

Kenneth “Captain Marbel” Duremdes, Ren-Ren Ritualo, Cris Bolado, Dindo Pumaren and Nelson “The Bull” Asaytono are also coming to the Kingdom for the first time like Patrimonio.

As early as three weeks ago or little over a month before the Legends Tour kickoff, visas have already been stamped on the players’ passports, said Dizon who added families will be allowed in all three venues after securing permit from the Immara in a development that saw a spike in ticket sales in the Eastern Province.

Also, Dizon said the PBA Legends team will arrive in Riyadh at 5:30 p.m. next Wednesday via Philippine Airlines flight. They then transfer on a domestic flight to Dammam the same day and reach King Fahad International Airport at 10:30 p.m.

After a morning press conference Thursday, the Legends play against ARCC-EEI at 7 p.m. although the gates open as early as 1 p.m. at the Green Hall Stadium Sports City on Rakkah Dammam-Khobar highway. In Riyadh, the game against MEFBA Riyadh All Star is 6 p.m. Friday with the gates to open at 1 p.m. at Prince Faisal Olympic Complex basketball hall in Nassiriyah. The Jeddah venue is the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium near the Industrial City, which will open at 1 p.m. for the 7 p.m. game against Saudi Legends on Saturday, April 18.

Jeddah coordinator Rocky Gil, commissioner of OFBL, said tickets are available at two branches of Art’s Cuisine Restaurant namely Jeddah Int’l Market and Al Safa and at Yummy Yummy in Salamah District. Also, Gil said there will be meet-and-greet for fans 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Trident Hotel.

CEEPO would like to extend its thanks to diamond sponsors KIA Motors, Al Jabr Saudi Arabia, Philippine Airlines, Enjaz Banking Services, Metro Bank, China Bank, BDO Remit, DBP, AUB, BPI Remittance, My Remit ABS-CBN, Al Dawaa Pharmacy through OPPO products, PEAK Shoes of Sodas Sports, RED TAG, ARCC-EEI, OSN, Kapatid TV5, Aksyon TV Int’l WIN International Marketing and Kingdom 9 n 1 Coffee; silver sponsors, Al Gosaibi Food Company, Popeyes, Vanellis, Saudi Diesel Equipment Co. Ltd., Flash Cargo, Sky Freight Forwarders, Bangus Restaurant, Kabayan Restaurant, Giordano Fashion and Hotel Inter-Continental Riyadh.