NBA legends descend on Manila to challenge PBA greats

If it were the movies, it’s a true-blue all-star cast. Five National Basketball Association legends – heroes of our rabbit-antenna TV sets, pre-Photoshop posters and yes, short shorts – visit Manila to give basketball-crazy Pinoy fans a one-of-a-kind treat. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points in 20 years spiked with a record six MVPs and six NBA titles, topbills the visiting NBA Generations team that challenges a selection from the Philippine Basketball Association on Friday at the Big Dome. His support crew is made up of big-time players: 7’2 Serbian center Vlade Divac, one of four players to record 13,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists and 1,500 blocked shots; Tim Hardaway, one of the best point guards during his prime and among the inventors of the crossover dribble; Robert Horry, a seven-time NBA champion known for his clutch shooting; and Dominique Wilkins, one the game’s most prolific scorers and best dunkers who engaged Michael Jordan in an aerial dogfight in the 80s. “We expect a good game, a fun but competitive game," Jabbar, who will serve as assistant to coach Rory White, said during the welcome press conference for the event dubbed NBA Asia Challenge 2009 in Makati City Tuesday. Being rusty from active competition for quite a while now (except for Horry who retired after the 2007-08 season), the NBA legends will likely play in the first and third quarters of the match, making sure fans will witness a fun and entertaining game. As for the competitive part, the visitors will likely leave it to young turks Billy Thomas, Christian Ellis, Derrick Dial, Marcus Hubbard, Russell Robinson, Jay Humphries and Clarence Smith from the NBA Developmental League (D-League). The PBA selection will basically carry the same concept: Retired greats Allan Caidic, Alvin Patrimonio, Kenneth Duremdes, Benjie Paras, and Ronnie Magsanoc, to take care of the nostalgia and fun part, and current stars Sonny Thoss, Willie Miller, Wynne Arboleda, Marc Pingris, Joseph Yeo, Dondon Hontiveros, Enrico Villanueva, Arwind Santos, and Jay-R Reyes to handle serious competition against the D-Leaguers. Like the visitors, PBA coach Yeng Guiao sees an entertaining yet competitive matchup. “I’m sure they (NBA legends) haven’t lost their competitiveness but it’s gonna be fun," said Guiao, who showed up at the press con with Arboleda and Santos. His gameplan? “We’ll just try to outrun Kareem and company. But as for the D-Leaguers, they’re in good shape, we’re gonna be matching them up with active players," Guiao said. Expected to add to the game’s excitement is the presence of the New Jersey Nets’ Dunking Divas, led by Fil-Am Cecilia, and the Nets’ mascot Sly Silver Fox, who are expected to show Filipino fans their famous slam-dunking antics during breaks. Jabbar and his peers, who arrived Monday after doing a similar event in Korea, couldn’t help but admire the Filipinos’ knowledge and passion for the sport. Currently special assistant to Lakers coach Phil Jackson, Jabbar said “Filipinos appreciate basketball and their level of play has gone better along with the level of play around the world." Horry took notice of the great reception Filipinos extended them. “This reception is one of the best I’ve ever seen. They come in droves, they love basketball, they appreciate the game." And with that, they promised to give Filipino fans one memorable, entertaining game. – GMANews.TV