De La Salle, Ateneo charity game ends in 90-all draw

QUEZON CITY, Philippines - Forty-eight minutes of basketball are not enough for Ateneo and De La Salle. This, after the match-up between the two bitter rivals in the first-ever PBA Ateneo versus La Salle showdown at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday afternoon ended in a 90-all draw. Former Atenean gunner Wesley Gonzales, who now plays pro basketball for the Magnolia Beverage Masters, could have given his team the outright victory in regulation period but he missed a long jumper with two seconds remaining. Earlier, Ateneo was leading by a measly two points at 90-88 when LA Tenorio, who was reportedly moving to the Alaska Aces from Magnolia together with Larry Fonancier after a trade was consummated by both teams early this week, fouled a driving Mike Cortez thus sending him to the line with 19.4 ticks left in the game. Cortez, who has been christened “The Cool Cat" in the PBA circle, calmly sank both his freebies that knotted the count at 90-all, forcing Ateneo coach Chot Reyes to call his final time-out. Fans that trooped to the Big Dome were hoping for an extension period but being a charity game, overtime is not allowed. Big men Enrico Villanueva of Ateneo and Carlos Sharma of La Salle were named PS Bank co-Maaasahan Players of the game, after they tallied 24 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, one steal and 15 points, seven rebounds and one assist, respectively. The biggest lead of the ball game, 10 points at 58-48, was erected by De La Salle midway in the third period. PBA Governor Tony Chua said the charity game was very important because the proceeds will directly go to the PBA Players’ Educational Trust Fund. He also raised the possibility of holding another charity game sometime next year. “I think we will hold additional charity events kasi baka maubusan ng charity fund ang mga PBA players. Maybe next year magkakaroon kami uli nito," Chua said. A sizeable number of Ateneo and La Salle fans turned out to see the former collegiate players slug it out for pride and honor. The Ateneo-La Salle charity game was played a week before the league’s import-flavored Smart Fiesta Cup comes off the wraps. Those who played for the Archers include Sta. Lucia’s Joseph Yeo, Talk ‘N Text’s Mac-Mac Cardona, Ren-Ren Ritualo and Don Allado, Red Bull’s Carlos Sharma, Coca-Cola’s Mark Telan, Welcoat’s Adonis Sta. Maria and Ryan Arana, Ginebra’s JR Aquino, Alaska’s Junjun Cabatu and Magnolia Beverage’s Willie Wilson and newly acquired Mike Cortez. The Eagles, on the other hand, practically had the roster of the 2002 team that won the UAAP championship. With the exception of Magnolia’s Olsen Racela who starred for Ateneo in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, also tapped to play were Magnolia’s Rico Villanueva and Wesley Gonzales, Alaska’s recruits LA Tenorio and Larry Foncier, Red Bull’s Rich Alvarez, Paolo Bugia and Magnum Membrere, Air21’s Gec Chia, Doug Kramer and JC Intal and Ginebra’s Macky Escalona. Two years back, La Salle and Ateneo actually played in a similar exhibition match that was marred by a fight between Villanueva and Yeo. PBA commissioner Renauld "Sonny" Barrios was then on the sideline as part of the organizing group when a fight erupted when Yeo punched Villanueva, leaving the former with a bloodied nose. Ateneo won, 88-85, courtesy of a last-gasp three-pointer by Villanueva. The scores: Ateneo 90 – Villanueva 24, Gonzales 13, Racela 10, Fonacier 9, Tenorio 7, Alvarez 7, Chia 7, Intal 6, Kramer 5, Membrere 5, Bugia 4, Chia 0, Escalona 0. La Salle 90 – Sharma 15, Yeo 13, Allado 11, Wilson 9, Cardona 8, Cortez 7, Telan 7, Cabatu 6, Ritualo 6, Arana 4, Sta. Maria 2, Aquino 2. Quarterscores: PBA DLSU vs PBA ADMU 27-24, 44-40, 67-61, 90 all - GMANews.TV