By RONNIE NATHANIELSZ

The PBA Legends USA Foundation will be in full force at the 110th anniversary celebration of Philippine Independence Day in New York City.

Legends Foundation chairman Abe King said they were thrilled and honored by the invitation from the Philippine Independence Day Council headed by its president Raul Estrellado and Consul General Cecilia Rebong to grace the Grand Parade on June 1 which begins at Madison and 41st streets.

According to Estrellado and Rebong, thousands of Filipino-Americans and Americans from New York, as well as neighboring states, will attend the parade.

King disclosed it was "highly possible that the greatest PBA legend Robert "Sonny" Jaworski would grace the celebration" after the former senator e-mailed King, saying he would "try his best to attend."

Also in line with the Independence Day celebrations, King said the Philippines Inter-City Basketball League of North America under its Sports Challenge Ministry had invited the PBA Legends to play an exhibition game to help raise funds for the Foundation’s medical mission and scholarship program for the poor in the Philippines. The game will be on May 31 at the Queens College Fitzgerald Gym in Flushing.

Aside from King, the others who have confirmed attendance at the various activities are former pro league superstars Francis Arnaiz, Abet Guidaben, the "Bruise Brothers" Yoyoy Villamin and Ricky Relosa, Manny Victorino, Estoy Estrada, Marte Saldana, Egay Gomez, Danny Florencio, Anthony Dasalla, Rey Lazaro, Federico Lauchengco and former player and coach Rino Salazar, among others.