Pacman KOs Cebu Media Anew in Friendly Hoop Game
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 27 Aug 2007
For the first time in basketball history, a referee hit a shot in a game he is officiating. Seriously speaking, this is just one of the comical scenes that enlivened a small throng of spectators who watched yesterday’s rematch of the friendly basketball duel between Team Pacman and the Cebu Media hoopsters yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
And after the mixture of laughters and serious hoop matters on the hardcourt, Team Pacman - bannered by the flashy Pacquiao brothers Manny and Bobby - again knocked down the DURABEND-sponsored Cebu Media squad, 102-93.
“Funny,” remarked David Rodela, Pacquiao’s sparting partner who suited up in the game wearing Pacman uniform with fellow Mexican Raymundo Beltran.
Unlike in their first encounter where Pacman won, 75-72, last August 19 at the City Sports Club-Cebu Gym, the Cebu Media hoopsters tasted a lead this time. After being down by as much as 15 points, the Cebu Media fought back in the second period to wrest the driver’s seat at halftime, 42-39.
In that stretch, noted comedians Long Mejia and Dennis Padilla of Team Pacman were clowning around, flaunting their very amusing, endless passing skills and other hilarious antics to the delight of all those who were inside the venue.
In the third period though, Team Pacman returned to serious business with Bobby and Manny Pacquiao pounding on the Cebu Media with a variation of insides and outside attacks.
Sharp-shooting forward Jingjing Rama joined the fray by bombing in 113-pointers including five straight that vaulted Team Pacman to an 80-65 advantage entering the final 10 minutes of the contest.
The last quarter of the game was all comedy. At one point, Team Pacman connived with the referee in setting up one comic sketch. After Pacquiao got hold of the ball, he tossed it to Padilla, who then threw the leather to Mejia.
Mejia, in return, handed over the ball to the referee, who calmly sank his short stab from the right wing, forcing the crowd to burst into laughters.
The closest the Cebu Media hoopsters could come was at nine points, which was incidentally the final tally.
Rama, who shot 8-of-10 from beyond the arc, paced Team Pacman with 26 points.
Manny Pacquiao had 17 points followed by his younger brother Bobby, who flashed some basketball flair and high-leaping ability, netted 21 markers.
The newest revelation for the Cebu Media cagers was John Z. Pages, who somehow relived the glorious moments when he played for La Salle-Bacolod varsity team during his high school days by topscoring with a game-high 29 points.
Pages ferociously attacked the defense of Team Pacman aside from creating nifty plays for his teammates. He was backed up by Manny Villaruel with 23 points followed by Roy Aznar with 20 markers in a losing cause.
Jun Migallen was held off to seven points, while Architect Allan Choachuy, the benefactor of Cebu Media, cashed in six points and four assists before fouling out early in the fourth period.
On hand to grace the match was Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael L. Rama and Councilor Raul “Yayoy” D. Alcoseba.
After the game, Pacquiao graciously signed autographs, posed for photo opportunities and rub elbows with his multitude of
fans who trooped to the Coliseum.
The scores:
Team Pacquiao (102) - Rama 26, Pacquiao B. 21, Pacquiao M. 17, Pacquiao W. 11, Panerio 9, Mejia 8, Fernandez 4, Igpit 2, Padilla 2, Panerio 2.
Cebu Media (93) - Pages 29, Villaruel 23, Aznar 20, Migallen 7, Coachuy 6, Defensor 6, Cordova 2.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel B. Villaruel.
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