TEAM PBA WINS “OLD-STAR GAME”
After the PBA Legends Game Friday and before the All-Star Game Sunday came the “Other All-Star Game.” Or better yet the “Old-Star Game” Saturday.
As in the previous edition of this not-so-serious match, GlobalPort team owner Mikee Romero and Batang Pier alternate governor Erick Arejola formed a lethal one-two punch for Team PBA in an 80-67 topping of PBA Media at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Alaska governor Dickie Bachmann imposed his 6-foot-5 frame inside the lane, returning Air21 boss Lito Alvarez made an impact with his remarkable outside shooting and debuting SMB official Gee Abanilla put in his share as Team PBA extended its domination of the Scribes in their own series in the PBA mid-season spectacle.
With TV panelist and San Mig Coffee assistant coach Richard del Rosario a no-show due to an injury suffered the previous night, The Philippine Star’s Nelson Beltran, PBA photographer/graphic artist Nuki Sabio, spin.ph’s Richard Dy and Arloune Miguel carried the cudgels for PBA Media.
Starters Romero, Arejola, Bachmann, Abanilla and Richard Cabarles got Team PBA to a roaring start, and Alvarez took over later, quashing the PBA Media uprising.
Alvarez, missing the action in Davao last year, more than made up for that absence with a crucial third-quarter binge fuelling the Team PBA breakaway.
The former Bureau of Customs commissioner nailed back-to-back three-pointers and a long twinner to highlight his return in this series.
Romero, a businessman/sportsman that’s also into polo and shooting, ended his game-long brilliance with a game-high 25 points while Arejola added 13.
Beltran, Sabio, Dy and Miguel logged double-digit outputs for the losing team.
The scores:
PBA 80 – Romero 25, Arejola 13, Alvarez 8, Pardo 6, Abanilla 6, Serafin 6, Segismundo 4, Bachmann 2, Villavicencio 0, Non 0.
Media 67 – Miguel 14, Beltran 12, Dy 11, Sabio 10, Chua 8, Joble 6, Galvez 4, Perez 2, Lopez 0, Talao 0.
Quarterscores: 29-12, 43-29, 62-47, 80-67.
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