PBA: Cardona explodes for 29 to lift Green Archers over Blue Eagles

For the second straight time, Green prevailed over Blue in the PBA Dream Game, as former DLSU Green Archers won over their Ateneo Blue Eagles arch-rivals, 111-108, Sunday, in an exhibition game at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Don Allado, the hero of the last Dream Game, sank the go-ahead basket with only 40 seconds left in the game to give the Green Archers a 110-108 lead. Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Magnum Membrere muffed a couple of three-points shots to give Mark Cardona the chance to ice the ball game.

The Meralco Bolt only managed a split from the free throw line but a desperation triple from Chris Tiu only hit the backboard.

Cardona was named the Best Player of the Game as he chipped in 29 points, four rebounds, and three steals in the game.

Rabeh Al-Hussaini opened the game with six straight points for the Eagles including a dunk from an offensive rebound before Mike Cortez opened the scoring for the Archers.

Later in the opener, Paolo Bugia sank a jumper as Blue Eagles took a 28-27 lead over Green Archers to end the first quarter.

Emman Monfort sank a three late in the second quarter to cut the Archer lead down to two points at 57-55. The two teams then exchanged baskets for a 59-57 count in favor of the Archers at the end of the first half.

The Green Archers caught fire in the third, but Magnum Membrere hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer at the tailend of the quarter. That allowed the Archers to enter the fourth quarter holding just an 87-79 lead.

In the final canto, six straight points from Wesley Gonzales, Emman Monfort, and Magnum Membrere tied the game at 89-all.

With the game still tied, but at 95-all, JC Intal completed a steal and soared for a dunk at the 5:11 mark of the fourth to give the lead to the Eagles. Carlo Sharma tied the game with a put-back on the next possession but Chris Tiu countered with his offensive carom and two free throws for a 101-97 lead for the Eagles.

With the Archers facing a three-point deficit at 102-99, Cardona caught fire as he scored the game’s next seven points to put the Archers up, 106-102, with only 2:42 left in the game.

Two free throws from Gonzales and a lay-up from Al Hussaini tied the game at 106-all. Gaco and Baclao then exchanged baskets for another tie, leading up to the match's final moments.

Last February 5, 2012, the La Salle team won by a core of 117-104, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. - Carlo Pamintuan/AMD, GMA News