FilOil: Team Borgie triumphs over Team Chris in All-Star game

The best and brightest collegiate basketball players took to the floor at the Master Game Face All-Star Basketball Challenge, Saturday, at the FilOil Flying V Arena. But in the end, it was Team Borgie that prevailed, as Ray Ray Parks bannered a late run with six of his side's last 11 points, and came up with key defensive stops to come from behind, hurdling over Kiefer Ravena and the rest of Team Chris, 89-88.

Fans voted for their favorite players, via the event's Facebook page, to form all-star teams divided by the FilOil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup's grouping system. Borgie Hermida, former San Beda Red Lion and current NLEX Road Warrior, coached players from Group A while Chris Tiu, former Ateneo Blue Eagle and current Rain or Shine Elasto Painter, mentored the Group B roster.

RR Garcia was named the game's MVP for registering 22 points.

"First time kong mag-coach, [tapos] nanalo pa," chuckled Borgie Hermida after the game.

Chris Tiu remarked that it was a challenge to coach "the future of Philippine basketball."

"It was difficult because all of them are superstars in their own right, and you only have 40 minutes in the game," he said. Nevertheless he said the affair was an enjoyable experience for him.

"We just wanted to put a show on for the crowd, tapos naging competitive," said Parks about how his team rallied back from an initial 13-6 deficit in the first quarter.

Although it was a friendly game for the most part, both teams looked to their marquee players to deliver the W in the last three minutes. Kiefer Ravena snared a fast break hoop, and Ray Ray Parks countered right away in transition, before Kevin Ferrer nailed another three-pointer for Team Chris to maintain an 86-80 lead.

Parks was fouled on the drive with two minutes remaining and nailed two freebies. The defensive stops came rolling for Team Borgie, and they attacked in waves: Emmanuel Mbe broke away for two, RR Garica drilled in a three-pointer and Parks iced a 9-2 run with another one on the break, 89-88, with 44 seconds on the clock.

With the possession staying with Team Chris, Ravena tried to shoot one from the top of the key but missed. Karim Abdul secured the offensive board and kicked the ball out. Team Borgie opted to foul Ravena with under 20 seconds remaining to reset the play.

Team Chris inbounded the ball to Jeron Teng, whose drive was cut off by Parks in the lane. He kicked the ball to Abdul for a midrange jumper, but got swatted by fellow Cameroonian Mbe. Ravena recovered the ball for a desperation trey that sailed wide, and the ball fell out of bounds with 0.7 ticks remaining. Team Borgie then inbounded the ball to Garcia to finalize the victory.

"We wanted to attack first then get a foul," commented Ravena on that last play. "But we had fun naman giving the fans what they deserve."

Team Borgie was bannered by starters Baser Amer (San Beda), Ray Ray Parks (NU), Ola Adeogun (San Beda), Rome De La Rosa (San Beda) and Andrei Paras (UP). The rest of their lineup was composed of Anthony and David Semerad (San Beda), Kyle Pascual (San Beda), Emmanuel Mbe (NU), Bryan Cruz (FEU), RR Garcia (FEU), Henry Asilum (UP), John Pinto (AU), James Forrester (AU), Jay Jamon (EAC), Mike Tolomia (FEU), Kyle Neypes (NU) and Joseph Marata (UP).

On the other side, Team Chris fielded Juami Tiongson (Ateneo), Kiefer Ravena (Ateneo), Abdul Karim (UST), Aljon Mariano (UST) and Jeron Teng (DLSU). Their bench was filled by Mark Cruz (Letran), Kib Montalbo (DLSU), Jerie Pingoy (Ateneo), Roi Sumang (UE), Jericho Cruz (Adamson), Arnold Van Opstal (DLSU), Raymond Almazan (Letran), Norbert Torres (DLSU), Chris Newsome (Ateneo), Jeric Teng (UST), Kevin Ferrer (UST), Jason Perkins (DLSU) and Roider Cabrera (Adamson).


Like most all-star games, the first quarter began as a light-hearted affair: players deferred to each other and their opponents on both ends of the floor. But the fun atmosphere began to fizzle out after a couple of Team Borgie turnovers led to easy shots for their opponents, and back-to-back makes by Kiefer Ravena gave Team Chris a 13-6 spread.

Team Borgie called for time halfway through the quarter and turned on the switch, as a Baser Amer-Ray Ray Parks alley-oop highlighted an 8-0 run.

A three-point shootout erupted with three minutes to play as Roider Cabrera, RR Garcia, Jerie Pingoy and Mark Cruz poured it on from downtown, and Team Chris emerged with a 22-17 lead. But in the final minute, a late put-back by Nard Pinto narrowed the gap to one, 22-21.

In the second quarter, King Tamaraw Garcia carried Team Borgie against ex-Baby Tams standout Pingoy, driving in the lane to offset the latter's hot shooting from outside. Team Chris kept the lead, 35-28, after a transition drive by Mark Cruz, and the combination of Chris Newsome and Ferrer did damage around the rim midway through the quarter to pad a 41-28 lead for Team Chris.

Both teams gave their bench an extended run in the last five minutes, an opportunity that Team Borgie seized to make headway. A triple by Mike Tolomia highlighted a 9-2 rally, until the Ferrer-Newsome combo struck anew, with the latter feeding Ferrer for a cutting hook shot, followed by Newsome cramming in a two-handed dunk in transition to keep the lead at 47-37.

However Team Borgie was determined to make a stand, as penetration moves by Jan Jamon and Emmanuel Mbe, including a driving one-handed dunk by the latter, sliced their deficit to 50-43 after two quarters.

At halftime, Pingoy tallied seven points and two assists on 3-of-8 shooting from the floor for Team Chris. Team Borgie was led by Garcia's 10 points on a 4-of-7 clip. None of the players from either team had logged more than eight minutes.

In the third quarter, Archers center Arnold Van Opstal drilled in a trey to the surprise of the fans. But Team Borgie was keen on catching up, as Garcia, Rome Dela Rosa and Ray Ray Parks created shots in the shaded area. A Baser Amer triple then drew their team within one to cap a 9-5 swing, 55-54.

Garcia kept up his aggressiveness on offense, getting into the lane together with Parks and David Semerad. Meanwhile Team Chris countered with three-pointers from Cabrera and Juami TIongson, 63-63, with under three minutes to play. But after another triple by Garcia, Team Chris began to break away, as Juami Tiongson countered with his own from long range, and Jericho Cruz and Ferrer finished in transition for a 70-66 lead after three quarters.

Ravena returned to the floor in the fourth for Team Chris after sitting out the middle quarters. He was largely silent however, as Tolomia drained two triples to complement his team's drives, giving Team Borgie a 76-72 lead.

Aljon Mariano returned fire for Team Chris with his own three-pointer, teaming up with steady shooting from Norbert Torres to retake an 81-78 advantage with four minutes to play before Parks and Garcia teamed up to upset their foes. - RAF, GMA News