Caidic stars in memorable NBA Asia Challenge game

Caidic stars in memorable NBA Asia Challenge game

by rick olivares

“Trigger. Trigger. Trigger.”

For National Basketball Association legends Gary Payton, Mitch Richmond, Glen Rice, and Chris Webber, the 2010 NBA Asia Challenge last Friday, August  27, 2010 at the Araneta Coliseum – let alone the whole week of activities built around the event – left them with a lot of memories. But the one thing or man that left them with mouths agape was Philippine Basketball Association great Allan Caidic.

“Man, I hate him,” joked Webber as Caidic’s Red Team, as coached by Alaska Aces Tim Cone, won the exhibition match 177-167 behind ‘The Triggerman’s incredible shooting display of 54 points including 14 triples.

“He is the truth” pronounced Payton.

“Trigger. Trigger. Trigger.” marveled Rice non-stop during the post-match press conference and who certainly knows a thing or two about hot hands.

Said NBA Asia’s Ed Winkle, Senior Director for Business Development and Marketing Partnerships, “He’s got one of the unique nicknames in the game.”

In the second staging of the biggest NBA event in southeast Asia, legends and current stars of the PBA played alongside their NBA and NBA Development League counterparts. Alaska Aces head coach Tim Cone, who proclaimed himself as “the world’s luckiest guy” for the event, coached the red Team that included among others Payton, Rice, Caidic, Arwind Santos, Vergel Meneses and the 2010 PBA Rookie of the Year Rico Maierhofer, and Fiesta Cup Mythical Selection member LA Tenorio.

The White Team was coached by San Miguel Beer mentor Siot Tanquincen who had in his line-up Webber, Richmond, former Mobiline import Richie Frahm, Dondon Hontiveros,  Benjie Paras, and Ronald Tubid among others.

From the opening tip, the Red Team began to set-up Caidic for three-point shots. The Triggerman, who had a stellar career with the University of the East Red Warriors, the fabled Northern Consolidated Cement team that inspired the Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team, Great Taste Coffee and San Miguel Beer, drilled six triples in a high scoring first half where the White Team took a 94-92 lead.

In the second half, Caidic’s shooting showed no signs of abating as his teammates and Rice in particular, continued to set up the Filipino marksman for even more triples. Caidic added eight more trifectas while Rice chipped in 19 points including five triples of his own as the Red Team closed out the memorable exhibition game with Miami Heat mascot Burnie scoring an unlikely bucket.

Former Crispa Redmanizer Atoy Co, belied his 59-years of age by scoring 10 points and winning the hearts of old and new fans with his competitiveness and display of emotion that added spice to the electric atmosphere at the Araneta Coliseum.

Summed up former PBA great Ronnie Magsanoc of the event, “A game like this brings us back to when we were kids and loved the game the way only a child could. And this is truly truly an unforgettable experience playing alongside your basketball heroes who I only watched once on TV. I am blessed.”




Red Team 177 - Caidic 54, Lazare 22, Rice 19, Santos 16, Meneses 16, Maierhofer 15, McCray 11, Co 10, Tenorio 7, Payton 7


White Team 167 - Frahm 24, Webber 24, Tyndale 22, Hontiveros 20, Paras 18, Magsanoc 16, Patrimonio 16, Richmond 16, Tubid 13

Ateneo Blue Eaglets Game #13 The Pursuit of Perfection

The Pursuit of Perfection

Ateneo 78 vs. FEU-FERN 54

by rick olivares

There is nothing that drives a coach crazy than a game plan that has been rehearsed and supposedly ingrained inside a player’s head not being executed. Even when you have a nine-point lead at the half.

The problem with a win steak, let alone an unblemished slate, is that complacency and overconfidence sets in.  Leave it to the coaching staff to cajole, plead, encourage, and erupt like a volcano to get their message across.

Not for one minute can they allow their team to relax and step off the gas pedal. Why not? There’s still one more game to play for the Ateneo Blue Eaglets to complete the elimination round and the chance to go undefeated for the season. For a third straight title.  And should the Blue Eagles also do he job, an unprecedented three-peat in both men’s and boy’s divisions.

Perfection is running your sets and game plan. It has worked for the last decade hasn’t it? And should it not, at least one can say that they tried and it didn’t work. But it worked and still works.

Perfection is sweeping the season series with FEU; something they have not done in three years. In the last two years, the Blue Eaglets and the Baby Tams, under coach Horacio Lim, have been 1-1.

There’s nothing more a coach, one who is on a mission at that, wants than to rectify that oversight by running the Tams to the ground.

“Kung ginawa ninyo yung kailangan niyong gawin eh tapos na to first half pa lang!” thundered Eaglets head coach Jamike Jarin to his wards at the half with Ateneo on top 40-31. The FEU-FERN Baby Tamaraws’ Mark Tanoy buried a triple right at the buzzer to close the first half.

Tanoy’s teammate Josuah Palacio had scored 13 points in the first 20 minutes including three triples. Much of his attempts had been wide open and uncontested shots.

After the first round of action, Ateneo was the league’s number one defensive team. They gave up the fewest number of points, the fewest number of two-point field goals, the fewest rebounds, and points allowed in the paint. They outscored their opponents by an average of 23.9 points per game.

In other categories, the surprising National University Bullpups were tops meaning they were trading places with Ateneo as the best defensive outfit.

“We have 20 minutes to change all that!” challenged Jarin as his boys rushed out for the second half.

And power forward-center Paolo Romero, who had earned the ire of Jarin for being out of the play in the first half, scored six quick points at the start of the third while Kiefer Ravena slammed one home off a steal. The Eaglets had a 19-point lead by the end of the third.

The team had responded. They filled out the wings on the breaks. Raced to pre-arranged spots for threes. And whipped the ball around to find the open man. In the midst of the run, senior forward Von Pessumal called to mind another sleek and Bullish forward from the Windy City who wreaked havoc with his defense while playing as a second facilitator on offense. He showcased his myriad skills with a balanced effort of 15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal.

They outrebounded their foes 50-33, out-assisted them 20-13, had two more steals at 7-5, and scored 14 fastbreak points, 13 second chance points, and 19 turnover points.

Palacio scored only two more points in the second half for a total of 15 points. But he had no other teammate in double figures.

In contrast, Ateneo’s Big Three of Ravena, Pessumal, and Romero had scored 20, 15 and 10 respectively.

And it helped the Blue Eagles bag their 13^th consecutive win as well as a 78-54 win for the season sweep against FEU-FERN.

A satisfied Jarin glanced at the stat sheet. Pessumal nearly had it perfect. Except that he had four turnovers.

The coach smiled, gave his customary Player of the Game Award to Pessumal and congratulated the team for a job well done. “Enjoy your weekend,” he advised owing to the long three day vacation because of National Heroes Day on Monday. But the Eaglets have practice at 4pm.

For on Tuesday, they play the National University. One step closer to perfection.

Ateneo 78 – Ravena 20, Pessumal 15, Romero 10, Sacluti 7, Mercado 6, Tenorio 5, Lim 3, Gadia 3, Suarez 2, Ressureccion 2, Javelosa 2, Dumrique 2, Austria 1, Vitangcol 0, Puno 0, Gamboa 0

FEU-FERN 54 – Palacio 15, Pearson 7, Tanoy 6, Sia 6, Lumahan 6, Fabian 5, Dimdam 4, Gelig 3, Manuel 2, San Jose 0, Pangalangan 0, Paulino 0, Estacio 0, Custodio 0, Cariño 0

Ateneo Blue Eagles Game #11 Omens & Motivations

Omens & Motivations

Ateneo 60 vs. UE 62

by rick olivares and aaron vicencio

Some teams are driven because of greatness. Some by a sense of mission while others are motivated by revenge. But some enter the court to fight for survival.

And the UE Red Warriors were fueled by the emotions of having their backs against the wall and their coach on the chopping block. They used to the hilt and came away with a whale of a victim in the suddenly mortal Ateneo Blue Eagles.

It was one of the bad days when nothing seemed to go right on the floor for the boys in blue and white. One might opine that they used up their offensive arsenal in their thrashing of La Salle five days earlier. Putting it quite simply, it was just one of those days when nothing right happened and no one could hit the side of a building even if their life depended on it.

The same cannot be said about the Red Warriors. As they lost quite a few of their regulars to graduation, they were suddenly lumped as a middle of the pack team – lacking in some areas but with sufficient veteran savvy to make things exciting.

As they struggled early in the season, the whispers had turned into angry voices of demands for a coaching change. As one has seen through the years, the Red Warriors thrive on adversity. In fact, Lawrence Chongson survived one such putsch last year and then drove his team all the way to the finals. So what’s one more attempt and an improbable rally for the last seat to the Final Four bus?

For the Blue Eagles, there were omens abound. In the days prior to the match, the practices were unlike the previous ones. Poor ball rotation, selfish play, and a little overconfidence here and there.

The day before the game, a couple of players engaged NBA great Glen Rice in an impromptu game of “H-O-R-S-E” at the Araneta Coliseum. Rice was here as part of the NBA Asia Challenge while the two Ateneans were guests of one of the event sponsors. Rice won one game while one Blue Eagle won another. But the shooting wasn’t particularly of the “lights out” variety.

And that brought to mind a statement by coach Norman Black who said that if the teams shoot well in the practice before game day it usually carries over. Unfortunately, the cold hands were the ones that showed up.

The Red Warriors defense, notwithstanding their seven blocks, wasn’t particularly airtight. Even the close range shots for the Blue Eagles refused to drop. Ateneo pulled down 10 offensive boards in the first quarter alone while UE had 7. Unusual numbers. But here is where it begins to tell – Ateneo shot a woeful 16% in the first 10 minutes as they managed only 8 points. The Red Warriors were almost as inept but they did lead by two as they scored 10.

Where does it tell? Anemic shooting. The lethargic play. The first five not delivering?

Here’s the frightening one. The second units of both teams cancelled each other out as both teams finished the half at 27-all. In hindsight, Warrior James Martinez had eight points while center Ken Rosopa suddenly looked all-league as he scored six points both on and-ones.

Ryan Buenafe had zilch next to his name in the ledger. Eric Salamat had 2 fouls. Nico Salva traveled on his first two possessions. Frank Golla was in foul trouble (because of Rosopa of all people) and the Blue Eagles had their lowest output of the first half all season long.

Towards the third quarter, Ateneo got a huge lift from Buenafe, Emman Monfort and Juami Tiongson as they held a seven-point lead 45-38.

But at the start of the fourth, Blue Eagle rookie had his previously unblockable hook rejected by Adrian Santos who then scooted in the opposite direction and was fouled by Monfort as he laid in the ball.

On Ateneo’s next offensive, a foul by Santos on dela Cruz earned the latter’s ire. Upon resumption of the game, dela Cruz lost the ball to Santos and his subsequent foul sent him to the bench.

The Blue Eagles not only lost their cool but the lead and control of the game.

From there, it was a war of attrition; a game of lead changes and who would blink first.

UE gunner Paul Lee had been mostly checked and instead of chucking up the hundreds of bricks he normally takes, he turned into a facilitator to get his teammates involved.

And none was more grateful for his assists than Martinez who began to fire away from medium range to long range to eventually impossibly long range that he would do very well to challenge Rice to a game of how-far-can-you-shoot.

It was chaotic on the floor. Ateneo’s switched to a zone of which UE took full advantage of. As Monfort sagged to try and contain a UE incursion, James Martinez received too the ball and hit another dagger.

Although the Blue Eagles still had a chance to eke out a win, an ill-advised shot here, missed free throws there, and offensive rebounds by UE allowed them to nip Ateneo 62-60.

The Red Warriors ran on to the floor as if they had won a championship. They felt that in the first round, spotty officiating had robbed them of a chance for an upset. And now, they repaid the deed. The team had its lease on life as they mathematically could tie whoever is at fourth in the standings. UE’s win also made the game between Ateneo and Adamson this coming Sunday an even bigger battle.

And it certainly called to mind the harrowing and unexpected loss to NU late in the second round of Season 70.

The loss allowed Adamson to tie Ateneo for second place with a 8-3 record and a full two matches behind leader FEU with a 9-1 slate and a game ahead of De La Salle that was at 6-4.

UE was at 4-7.

“Our motivation is the Final Four and for ourselves,” said Chongson after the game. “If beating Ateneo one more time is a way for us to go out with a bang then so be it. But our mission isn’t done. We have a long way to go.”

Looming ahead in the meantime for a stunned Ateneo are the hungry Adamson Falcons. The Blue Eagles are hoping for a three-peat, one they have not achieved since the 1930s when they were playing in the old NCAA. For the Falcons, they have extra motivation – a Final Four seat and breaking the curse of a 13-year losing streak.

UE 62 – Martinez 22, Rosopa 12, Lee 9, Acibar 7, Reyes 6, Santos 2, Casajeros 2, Enguio 0, Zamar 0, Sumido 0, Duran 0

Ateneo 60 – Salamat 16, Escueta 10, Monfort 9, Chua 9, Buenafe 5, Long 4, dela Cruz 3, Tiongson 2, Golla 2, Salva 0, Gonzaga 0, Austria 0

Notes: Ateneo had zero fastbreak points. The last time the Blue Eagles reached that nadir was when they also faced UE albeit for a 72-57 win in the first round of last year. It was the lowest output and field goal percentage for Ateneo this season.

At the Gatorade Meet & Greet Chris Webber

Mikey and Ton hosted the Gatorade Meet & Greet Chris Webber for the winners of the Gatorade/7-11 promotion as well as for Pepsico officials and media. I wrote the script and made a cameo appearance as a hirit host.

Chris recognized me. "You again! You must be my biggest fan!" Hahaha. Am just everywhere like those Converse Chuck Taylors.

With the sports media folk who cover the games. I invited them for the small Meet & Greet.

NBA Asia event turns everyone into fans

NBA Asia event turns everyone into fans

by rick olivares

Chris Webber and Mitch Richmond were at the halfcourt of the Araneta Coliseum. The 6’10” Webber was standing at the circle and was launching basketballs while facing the opposite direction yet from 47 feet away. None of them came close to slicing the cords but it didn’t matter. Webber was in too good a mood to not mind missing.

Over at the foot of the entrance to the court were Ronald Tubid, LA Tenorio, Rico Maierhofer, Dondon Hontiveros, Ronnie Magsanoc, and Alvin Patrimonio. Maierhofer, the recently declared 2010 PBA Rookie of the Year carried a plastic bag containing jerseys that bore the number “4”. In the front of one jersey, it read “Michigan” while the other had “Sacramento” on it. The pieces of authentic apparel bore Webber’s name in the back.

You know the doe-eyed look of wonder a kid wears when he enters Toys ‘R Us for the first time? That was the look that Maierhofer, Tubid, and company wore. The PBA superstars had been reduced to fans. “That’s how we started anyway,” said Magsanoc who made no apologies for his overt giddiness. “I don’t care if Chris Webber is not the player he once was (after he had to undergo microfracture surgery that severely curtailed his explosiveness and athleticism). Just him standing there is good enough for me. He is a legitimate NBA superstar!”

Despite his moniker of “the Saint,” Tubid can hardly be characterized as one on the court. Known for his devil may care ways when the starting whistle is blown, he plays with unbridled passion that is oft mistaken for arrogance. But as he watched former Seattle Supersonics guard Gary Payton chat with NBA D-League player Chris McCray, he is once more that kid who used to pattern his game after the man they call “The Glove.”

“Nung sinabihan ako na kasama ako dito exhibition game (the 2010 NBA Asia Challenge) naisip ko na meron din ako sigurong nagawang tama sa mundong ‘to.” quipped the man who is one-third of the trio that sportscaster Mico Halili dubs as ‘the Fast, the Furious, and the Fearless.’ “Excited ako. Pero sana may chance din ako bantayan siya.”

Magsanoc was also clearly pleased with this batch of NBA players who were genuinely happy to be in Manila. Their press conference last Tuesday, August 24, at the Dusit Thani Manila was a laughfest as the players, who were quite great interviews during their day were joking, telling stories, and very warm with the assembled media.

However, it isn’t only the PBA stars who are awestruck.

Payton looked up at the huge streamer with the “Thrilla in Manila” stitched on it. “Oh, I get to play in the venue where Muhammad Ali once boxed? Man…………. where one of the greatest boxing matches of all time was fought?” he said referring to the storied Araneta Coliseum that has seen thousands of great sporting events. “I played on every NBA court and in another country for the Olympics but how many NBA players can say that they played in the same venue where Ali once boxed and fought one of the greatest boxing matches of all time? Now that is like icing on the cake for my career.”

The 2010 NBA Asia Challenge is the second staging of this biggest NBA event in Southeast Asia and players like Payton and Glen have heard how the Philippines is the mecca for hoops in Asia. Some time late last year, Rice played in a scrimmage with Smart Gilas Pilipinas in Los Angeles and he found the Filipinos not only talented but tough competitors as well. “We had to raise the level of our game… and have like six halftimes just to compete,” deadpanned Rice who took some ribbing from Payton for his age.

“You’re going to have to make it seven halftimes,” chimed in Magsanoc who was referring to the local legends also being long out of shape.

Rice had heard of local hoops hero Allan Caidic who in his prime was known for incredible shooting displays from medium, long, and beyond area code range. The two will be engaging in a shootout either between quarters or halftime of the exhibition game today at the Araneta Coliseum. Game time between two mixed teams of NBA, D-League, and PBA players, each be coached by Alaska mentor Tim Cone and San Miguel Beer benchmaster Siot Tanquincen, is at 8pm.

While the Filipinos and Americans worked out on the court, several dozen kids from Parañaque who were participating in the NBA Cares program sat in the patron section and patiently waited for their chance to get some pictures or autographs. One eight-year old kid watched the former NBA stars’ engage some collegiate basketball players in a game of “Horse.”

When asked if he was excited to meet Payton and company, the kid held out his hands and professed not to be familiar with them. He was after all only nine years old and at the time when the Glove helped the Miami Heat to its first title in 2006, he wasn’t that aware of the game’s nuances or players.

Now it was the kid’s turn to ask a question. “May isang tanong ako. Where’s Kobe Bryant?”

And everyone just burst out laughing.

JRU sends Perpetual Help further down the cellar while Letran collapses once more in the endgame

JRU sends Perpetual Help further down the cellar while Letran collapses once more in the endgame

by rick olivares and jan dizon

The Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers survived a strong challenge from the hard-fighting Perpetual Help Altas to score a 66-55 win in their first assignment of the second round of the 86^th Season of the NCAA yesterday at the San Juan Arena.

Behind the strong play and energy by George Allen and Jet Vidal, the Altas who were missing leading scorer Arnold Danganan because of a one-game suspension, who are mired at the cellar with a 0-8 record heading into the game, took a one-point lead at the half 28-27.

The Heavy Bombers regained the lead in the third but the Altas’ Raffy Ynion scored at the 3:49 mark to give his side the lead once more at 41-40. It would be their last taste of the lead as they would score only 14 points the rest of the way.

JRU responded with a 9-0 run through via three-point play by Raycon Kabigting, a trifecta by Nate Matute and a bucket by Joe Etame and the Heavy Bombers were in firm control after that.

“We had difficulty scoring early but we turned up our defense,” said Etame who scored only 7 points but had game high 11 rebounds and 3 shot blocks.

Added JRU head coach Vergel Meneses whose team went further entrenched themselves at third place in the standings with an 8-2 record and a game behind San Sebastian, “I am happy that players like Nate Matute have been stepping up. We’re going to need more of that from everyone if we want to compete with San Beda and San Sebastian.”

Matute led his team in scoring with 15 points while Kabigting added 12 and Alex Almario and John Montemayor had 10 each.

The hapless Altas fell to a 0-9 hole for their 18^th straight loss dating back to last season. Allen and Vidal paced their team with 14 points each.

In the main match of the Wednesday double header, the Mapua Cardinals arrested their two-game slide with a pulsating come from behind 63-60 win over the Letran Knights in the main game yesterday.

Graduating Cardinal Macky Acosta scored five points in the last 15 seconds -- a huge triple off an offensive rebound and two free throws -- to complete the rally from being 14-points down late in the fourth quarter.

Letran led by 14 points 58-44 with 3:36 left to play following a Kevin Alas layup. But a few seconds later, Alas committed a blocking foul on Acosta for his fifth and final foul. Acosta made his free throws and the comeback was officially on.

In the midst of a searing run to get back in the game, Cardinal Erwin Cornejo rifled in a pair of trifectas before Acosta's heroics.

The Knights actually had a chance to still wrangle out a win but Franz Dysam missed four free throws including two with Mapua breathing down their necks at 60-58. Letran had trouble finding the bottom of the basket with Alas' graduation due to fouls as they were held scoreless in the final 88 seconds of the match.

Cornejo led Mapua with 18 points while TG Guillermo and Acosta each had 11. For Letran, Alas scored 13 while Dysam had 10.

The win put Mapua at 6-4 and got them back in the hunt for the last seat in the Final Four while Letran's campaign is teetering on the brink with a 3-7 record.

2010 NBA Asia Challenge rosters

Here are the rosters for the NBA Asia Challenge this coming Friday August 27, 2010:

Red Team (coach Tim Cone)

Players: Gary Payton, Glen Rice, Darnell Lazare, Chris McCray, Atoy Co, Vergel Meneses, Allan Caidic, Asi Taulava, LA Tenorio, and Arwind Santos

White Team (coach Siot Tanquincen)

Players: Chris Webber, Mitch Richmond, Mark Tyndale, Richie Frahm, Alvin Patrimonio, Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc, Ronald Tubid, Rico Maierhofer, and Dondon Hontiveros


Will post my interviews with the individual players tomorrow! How do I feel about these exhibition games? I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't looking forward to them however, my fear here is someone might get hurt considering that some of them have been retired for a while now and are not in playing shape. Remember the Legends game during the NBA All-Star Weekend? They scrapped it when someone got hurt. I figure that this along with the ticket prices is a way to gauge interest about hosting a real game or exhibition one in Manila. But that's just my take on it.

UP's protest is thrown out

In case you're wondering what happened to UP's protest over the non-lane violation call during the fifth free throw attempt by NU's Jewel Ponferrada to force a jump ball at center court, it has been thrown out. So the Fighting Maroons officially slump to a 0-10 record. 

League commissioner Ato Badolato said it was a judgement call by the referees. 

Sorry, Commish. They still have to call it. Even if it takes a hundred attempts by Ponferrada they still have to call it. But that sure took some balls for Boyet Fernandez to call that. That has to be one of the most comical if not infamous free throws attempts ever. But Diony Hipolito.... tough misses, man.

And what about those morons who called the Ateneo-La Salle match? That was a mighty suspicious fourth quarter.

Back to the Maroons. This is just one nightmare of a season. Even if they do win a game or two... I still think that this is worse than the 0-14 year simply because they are a much better team than the one in Joe Lipa's final year. Gotta feel bad for guys like Martin Reyes, Magi Sison, and Woody Co.

Team officials believe that Woody can still play a couple of games but Mark Lopez is done for the year after the ACL. Get well, brother.

NBA legends plan to put a smile on Filipinos faces for 2010 Asia Challenge

This appears in the Wednesday August 25, 2010 edition of the Business Mirror.

NBA legends plan to put a smile on Filipinos faces for 2010 Asia Challenge

by rick olivares

If the press conference for the 2010 NBA Asia Challenge at the Fiesta San Miguel room of the Dusit Thani Hotel is any indication, Filipinos are going to get a taste of what Barcelona fans felt during the 1992 Summer Olympics where the one and only Dream Team captured the gold medal and hearts of sports fans everywhere.

Of course, four players – Gary Payton, Chris Webber, Mitch Richmond, and Glen Rice aren’t the Dream Team – but it isn’t every day that a stellar cast of NBA legends come over to these hoops crazy shores to entertain fans.

Even PBA legend Ronnie Magasanoc couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. “Whatever Gary Payton does is okay with me,” quipped Magsanoc when asked about a match-up with Payton who was known by his unique moniker “the Glove.”

“It will be better though,” said Magsanoc to a highly appreciative crowd of media, corporate sponsors, and select guests that applauded and hooted with every quip and crack by the basketball players, “if he were on my team.”

The 2010 NBA Asia Challenge is the second staging of this event; the largest in Southeast Asia. The exhibition game will feature two teams each with a mixed roster of NBA legends, NBA Development League players and some of the best Filipino players and legends of the Philippine Basketball Association that is scheduled for Friday, August 27, 2010 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Also joining the American basketball players are the Miami Heat Dancers and Miami Heat mascot Burnie.

Said Glen Rice when asked if they did their research on Filipino players, “Well, I heard a lot of the man they call ‘Trigger.’ It would be great to match skills with him.”

In last year’s match Allan Caidic drilled five triples in an incandescent shooting display in the first quarter.

Rounding out the Filipinos’ roster aside from Magsanoc and Caidic are Benjie Paras, Vergel Meneses, Atoy Co, Alvin Patrimonio, LA Tenorio, Arwind Santos, Rico Maierhofer, Dondon Hontiveros, Asi Taulava, and Ronald Tubid.

A side interest would be the return of one-time Talk ‘N Text import Richie Frahm who suited up for the local club in 2002. It is in fact, Frahm’s last professional game. “It’s interesting because my professional career first got its start in the Philippines and I am playing my last game here as well.”

Frahm will be getting into coaching after this trip. Also joining Frahm who just hung up his sneakers with the Reno Bighorns are the Iowa Energy’s Mark Tyndale, the Sioux Falls Skyforce’s Chris McCray, and the Maine Red Claws’ Darnell Lazare.

“Now’s the time to give back to the game,” said Richmond who in his heyday was a part of the Golden State Warriors’ “Run-TMC” with Tim Hardaway (who was a part of the first ever NBA Asia Challenge) and Chris Mullin. “I’m going to speak for all four of us – before we knew it our time was done.”

“We hear good things about the Philippines,” added Webber who after winning the 1994 NBA Rookie of the Year with Golden State went on to have a stellar career with the neighboring Sacramento Kings. “I’m looking forward to soaking in all that craziness and love.”

Of the four NBA legends on this trip, it is only Webber who did not win an NBA championship. Payton won in 2006 with the Miami Heat, Rice with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000, and Richmond also with the Lakers in 2002. “I didn’t win the big one, but my number four hangs in the rafters in Sacramento. That was the sum of my career from Michigan all the way to Golden State and the other cities I played for. And ultimately in Sacramento where we played some great basketball but unfortunately were not able to bring a championship to the city. My jersey being retired there says a lot about the class of the organization and the community. I’m still going to say I’m blessed.”

The NBA players who made the trip to the Philippines have some ties. Payton, Rice, and Richmond played with the Lakers although not together on one team. Webber and Rice are both alumni of the University of Michigan of which the latter led to the 1989 NCAA title. Richmond and Webber both have their numbers retired by the Kings and each replaced each other as the team’s star as they became a lower tier team to one of the elite in the NBA during the early 2000’s.

“Basketball has been good to me,” summed up Rice. “I got to live out my basketball dream. And now I’m still involved with it with my son (Glen Jr. who is going to begin his first year with the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets this coming US college season) and getting an opportunity to play here. Now that’s a good way to close a career, don’t you think?”

The 2010 NBA Asia Challenge was organized by the NBA and Solar Sports in cooperation with the PBA. Presenting partners are KFC and Petron Turbo Diesel. The official partners are Asia Miles and Toshiba while the supporting partners are Coors Light, Dusit Thani Manila, Gatorade, Mitsubishi Motors, Smart Communications, and Spalding.

Pics from the 2010 NBA Asia Challenge Press Con & one-on-ones

Interviewing Mitch Richmond. Will post a longer story to this.

The Miami Heat Dancers! Natalie sure is some kind of pretty.

Gary Payton was such a great interview (well, all of them are). Here he is mulling on a nugget. GP loved my Iron Man skin. He says that Iron Man is one of his favorites movies. "Kinda wish my glove had a repulsor ray, man!" he said.

With Glen Rice. Glen and Chris Webber loved my question during the press con about the Michigan Wolverines. "Go, blue!" asked Chris to the crowd. My sentiments. And my fave color too.