Hardcourt idols, local celebs unite for Sendong victims

The result hardly mattered to all basketball fans, what's important is they had the chance to watch their collegiate basketball idols and other local celebrities entertain them inside the hard court and at the same time support a worthy cause. Several members of four-time UAAP champion Ateneo, led by event organizer and reigning Rookie of the Year Kiefer Ravena, played in the Fastbreak charity event Friday at The Arena in San Juan City. Dancer-turned-actor Jhong Hilario and Ateneo's Justin Chua scored 16 points each while Ravena added 14 as Smart-White downed Meralco-Red, 118-107. Comedian Jose Manalo put on a show during the halftime break where he spoofed Gerald Anderson's TV soap character "Budoy" that drew laughter from the crowd. The Eat Bulaga host even grabbed the whistle from the referee in the third where he officiated most part of the quarter. Anderson and Manalo also showed that they too can play ball when each of them sank a three-pointer. Manalo drained his shot from beyond the arc in the two-minute mark of the final period to give Smart-White a 116-104 lead. While Anderson, who got female fans screaming every time he touched ball, made a buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the first half. Allan Caidic ruled the three-point shootout while actor Kapuso Eric Vijandre and Hale band member Champ topped the two-ball competition in the side events of the one-day fundraising match. Caidic, who tallied 14 points to emerge on top after the elimination round, scored an 11-8 win over NLEX's Chris Ellis in the finals. Two-time PBA MVP James Yap of B-MEG and GMA News reporter Mark Zambrano also participated in the three-point shootout. Ravena said he was thankful to all the fans who supported the fundraising event where proceeds will be used to help victims of tropical storm Sendong rebuild their damaged homes. "Personally, I'm speechless and I’m really happy for the good turnout. I won't forget this event," said Ravena. "It's a basketball game but at the same time we’re going to help our countrymen and all we entertained everyone who came to watch us play," said Ravena. — JVP, GMA News