NBA legends vs PBA counterparts in NBA Asia Challenge 2009
September 11, 2009If it were the movies, it’s a true-blue all-star cast. Five National Basketball Association legends – heroes of our rabbit-antenna TV sets, pre-Photoshop posters and yes, short shorts – visit Manila to give basketball-crazy Pinoy fans a one-of-a-kind treat.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 38,387 points in 20 years spiked with a record six MVPs and six NBA titles, topbills the visiting NBA Generations team that challenges a selection from the Philippine Basketball Association on Friday at the Big Dome.
His support crew is made up of big-time players: 7’2 Serbian center Vlade Divac, one of four players to record 13,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists and 1,500 blocked shots; Tim Hardaway, one of the best point guards during his prime and among the inventors of the crossover dribble; Robert Horry, a seven-time NBA champion known for his clutch shooting; and Dominique Wilkins, one the game’s most prolific scorers and best dunkers who engaged Michael Jordan in an aerial dogfight in the 80s.
As for the competitive part, the visitors will likely leave it to young turks Billy Thomas, Christian Ellis, Derrick Dial, Marcus Hubbard, Russell Robinson, Jay Humphries and Clarence Smith from the NBA Developmental League (D-League).
The PBA selection will basically carry the same concept: Retired greats Allan Caidic, Alvin Patrimonio, Kenneth Duremdes, Benjie Paras, and Ronnie Magsanoc, to take care of the nostalgia and fun part, and current stars Sonny Thoss, Willie Miller, Wynne Arboleda, Marc Pingris, Joseph Yeo, Dondon Hontiveros, Enrico Villanueva, Arwind Santos, and Jay-R Reyes to handle serious competition against the D-Leaguers.
