Basketball
La Salle routs Ateneo in alumni match
Mac Cardona drives against JC Intal. PBA/Nuki Sabio
A dream team of former La Salle stars from the PBA defeated counterparts from Ateneo, 117-104, in a charity exhibition match dubbed “Blue vs Green: Dream Game 2012″ Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Barako Bull center Don Allado, who won the UAAP Most Valuable Player award while playing for La Salle in 1998 and 1999, once again shown bright in green, scoring 23 points for the Green Archers squad. Meralco guard Mac Cardona chipped in 20 points for the La Salle alumni squad, which was never threatened in the game.
Alaska Aces guard LA Tenorio led the way for Ateneo with 20 points, while Barangay Ginebra’s Enrico Villanueva added 19.
La Salle, using its familiar three-guard lineup, broke out to an early 16-point lead en route to a 34-20 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The Green Archers continued to put the Blue Eagles at bay in the second quarter on the heroics of Allado, who performed a Tebow — the act of getting down on a knee and praying in the middle of the game, popularized by Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow — after a three-point play opportunity off Ateneo center Japeth Aguilar.
Allado was named MVP of the game, and it was fitting for the veteran, who was talking trash on Twitter in the week leading up to the event.
“If I’m gonna say something, I’m gonna back it up,” said Allado.
Apart from Allado and Cardona, former La Salle stars JVee Casio, Carlo Sharma, Ryan Arana, Rico Maierhofer, Joseph Yeo, Ren-Ren Ritualo, Mike Cortez, JR Aquino, and Jerwin Gaco also suited up for the Green Archers. TY Tang and Willy Wilson were also on the lineup, but missed the game due to injury. Air 21 Express coach Franz Pumaren, who led La Salle to five championships in the UAAP, called the shots for the Green Archers.
The Blue Eagles were composed of Tenorio, Villanueva, Aguilar, Larry Fonacier, JC Intal, Doug Kramer, Eric Salamat, Noy Baclao, Magnum Membrere, and Paolo Bugia. Injured former Ateneo stars Wesley Gonzales and Rabeh Al-Hussaini were also part of the team, which was coached by current Ateneo tactician Norman Black, who has led the Blue Eagles to four straight UAAP titles.
The game was for the benefit of the cancer and hematology center of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City.
PBA GREEN 117 – Allado 23, Cardona 20, Casio 13, Sharma 12, Arana 9, Maierhofer 9, Yeo 9, Ritualo 8, Cortez 8, Aquino 3, Gaco 3.
PBA BLUE 104 – Tenorio 20, Villanueva 19, Aguilar 16, Fonacier 14, Intal 13, Kramer 7, Salamat 4, Baclao 4, Membrere 3, Alvarez 2, Bugia 2.
Quarters: 34-20, 61-48, 94-75, 117-104
