PBA legends wow fans in CA’s exhibition games

Former superstars of the Philippine Basketball Association relived rivalries on the hard court again, but this time in California and for a worthy cause. The exhibition games by PBA legends aimed to raise funds for scholarship grants to poor and deserving students and medical-dental missions in depressed urban areas in the Philippines. Other players played in the preliminaries of the series held by the PBA Legends USA Foundation to raise funds for its various programs. The foundation is the brainchild of King, backed by Rey Santos, Rufino Ignacio and other fellow former cagers. A statement on the PBA website Saturday evening said more than 60 former pros from Manila and various parts of the United States took part in the 2008 PBA Legends Grand Reunion Tour. While they relived the good old days, they also brought joy and excitement to the Filipino-Americans in four major cities in California, the statement said. Stars of the fabled Crispa-Toyota rivalry in the 1970s and early 1980s, and the finest players in the 1990s figured in a four-game series with Martin Purefoods-Crispa and Ohama Harbor-Toyota, which split their games. Toyota took the first game, 91-89, at the Logan High School gym in Union City last March 8 but Crispa got even the next day with a 96-91 win at the Arco Arena in Sacramento. Crispa took the third game, 104-101, in Carson City, but Toyota closed the series at 2-2, 94-86, in San Diego. Alberto "Abet" Guidaben, a PBA pioneer who played with Crispa in the PBA's inaugural season, showed spring in his legs at 55, and fired 21 points to lead all scorers in the Carson City contest. Fortunato "Atoy" Co Jr. and Ronald "Ronnie" Magsanoc scored 19 apiece and Isabelo "Jojo" Lastimosa Jr. added 16, Elpidio "Yoyoy" Villamin 11 and William "Bogs" Adornado 10. Vergel Meneses scored 20 points to pace Toyota which also drew double-digit outputs from Gerald "Gerry" Esplana and Manuel "Manny" Victorino. In San Diego, Meneses topscored again for Toyota with 23 with Jerry Codiñera and Timoteo "Tim" Coloso contributing 11 apiece, Roderick "Olsen" Racela nine and Ramon Fernandez and Francis Arnaiz with eight apiece. The losing team drew double-digit outputs from Magsanoc, Villamin, Guidaben and Romeo dela Rosa. Others who played for Crispa were Bernard Fabiosa, Philip Cezar, Alvin Patrimonio, and Santiago Cabatu. Allan Caidic played the first two games but rushed back to Manila to attend to a personal matter. Those who played in the Toyota team coached by Robert Jaworski were Abe King Jr., Manny Paner, Arthur dela Cruz, Hector Calma, Paul Alvarez, Marte Saldaña and Yves Dignadice. A series of one-on-one matches was also held during the tour. - GMANews.Tv