NBA Asia Challenge
NBA Legends out to strut stuff before Pinoys
By Josiah Israel Albelda
24 August 2010
One by one, Mitch Richmond, Glen Rice, Chris Webber and Gary Payton stepped into the Fiesta San Miguel mezzanine at the Dusit Thani, smiling and waving to the applause of the starstruck (some will probably say they weren't) Philippine media.
Perhaps unmindful of the carnage that gripped the country last night, these four NBA legends are surely having a heck of a time here.
And they are to give us more.
The Fab Four, who boast of three championship rings, 23 All-Star appearances and 19 All-NBA team selections among them, will strut their stuff Friday in the 2010 NBA Asia Challenge at the Araneta Coliseum.
The quartet will be playing with six PBA legends, six current PBA stars and four NBA D-Leaguers, including former Talk N' Text import Richie Frahm.
Joining the cagers in this trip presented by KFC and Petron Turbo Diesel are six Miami Heat Dancers and Burnie, the team's mascot.
All four are excited about showing their skills in front of thousands of fans in this basketball-crazy nation and have assured that they will give their best to entertain Filipinos on August 27.
"Maybe I am expected to dunk," Webber said. "We'll see if I can do that."
Meralco assistant coach and legendary point guard Ronnie Magsanoc himself cannot hide his anticipation, repeatedly saying that he once dreamed of playing with these stars and it is now a reality.
As a matter of fact, he will welcome whatever Payton does to him - even if it will cost his limbs.
"Whatever Gary Payton does to me, I will welcome," Magsanoc told reporters, who broke into laughter."
(More on the NBA Asia Challenge in the next few days.)
Note: Frahm, who has since suited up for five NBA teams, said he is back for unfinished business. He, together with American coach Bill Bayno and Asi Taulava, was booted out in the first round of the 2002 PBA wars after topping the eliminations.
