CAPTAIN MARBEL POWERS STALWARTS OVER GREATS IN LEGENDS GAME
DIGOS CITY – Five years after his last PBA active season, Kenneth Duremdes made the Mindanaoan folks proud with a sterling performance leading his team to victory in the Legends Game.
Duremdes, from the nearby South Cotabato province, churned out a game to remember as Team Stalwarts turned back Team Greats, 112-105, in the main feature of the PBA All-Star Friday at the Davao del Sur Coliseum here.
The former Adamson Falcon tallied 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists, and ended up collecting another award deep in his retirement.
The 1998 PBA season MVP and 1996 All-Stars MVP won the Best Player honors in the second edition of the Legends Game over teammates Jervy Cruz, Mark Macapagal, Ronald Tubid and Willie Miller.
Duremdes, Macapagal, Cruz, Tubid and Miller carried much of the load for Team Stalwarts who recovered in time after blowing away an 18-point first-half bulge.
Macapagal knocked in five of 11 three-point attempts as he also finished with 19 points, Cruz grabbed 20 rebounds and added 16 points while Tubid and Miller chipped in 18 and 16 markers, respectively, for the Stalwarts who outfought the Greats, featuring retired stars Jerry Codinera, Vince Hizon, Bong Hawkins, Rodney Santos and Johnedel Cardel.
Serving as playing-coach, Duremdes, who starred for Swift, Alaska, Sta. Lucia and Coca-Cola in his glorious active playing years, went 9-of-13 from the field in 23 minutes of action in the Legends Game serving as the main aperitif to the PBA All-Star Game slated Sunday in the same venue.
He’s still got the legs and the shooting touch, being an active participant in playing tours by a group of PBA legends across the country and even abroad.
“Pwede pa kapag kasing edad namin. Mahirap lang kapag mga bata ang kalaban,” said Duremdes, who’s turning 40 next year.
His knees were wrapped with ice packs after the game.
Last year, another retired star in Ato Agustin won the MVP award in the inaugural Legends Game.
Falling behind by eight, 87-95, early in the fourth quarter, Team Stalwarts went to Duremdes, Tubid, Cruz and Miller as they moved back up front at 107-103.
A trey by Duremdes pushed the Stalwarts ahead to stay at 105-103.
Later, Duremdes collared a rebound and issued an assist as the Stalwarts clinched the game, negating the double-digit outputs of Joe Devance, PJ Simon, Paul Lee, Andy Barroca, Rodney Santos and Jerry Codinera.
Among the Team Greats oldies, Santos and Codinera stood out with 14 and 11 points, respectively. (SB)
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