|
Saturday, April 29, 2006
NBA Legends entertain
By Rommel C. Manlosa
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
Dennis Rodman, the star attraction of the all-star show, grabbed rebounds, dived for loose balls and stayed true to himself to the thrill of the 5,000 fans who witnessed the “Bad Boy Tour.”
The rest of the foreign visitors were just as impressive – and entertaining – as Rodman’s crew, collectively known as USA Basketball Legends, annihilated the SMC All-Stars, 124-94, Thursday night at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
Rodman and his fellow ex-National Basketball Association (NBA) stars did most of the entertainment part, while the rest of the team, players from the NBA Developmental League (NBADL) led by Olu Famutimi, did most of the scoring.
Dunks
Famutimi wowed the crowd with his display of slam-dunks, varying from a simple two-handed slam to acrobatic 360-degree dunks. He also got help from spitfire guard Kareem Reid and flashy Marion Allen.
Rodman scored only five points on a jumper, a ditsy-do and split free throws. However, he had 17 rebounds, an assist and a block to go with one turnover in 34 minutes of play.
Rodman’s intensity was on display in the first three quarters but he did not see action in the entire fourth quarter, where Famutimi and his NBADL buddies put on the finishing touches to the blow-out game.
At one point, Rodman dived for the loose ball and rammed into the press section under the court. The 6-foot-7, 230-pound Rodman slammed into Sun.Star Cebu’s Karlon Rama, ABS-CBN’s Naomi King and The Freeman’s Cyril Camporedondo.
Rama and Camporedondo were unhurt but King suffered a small cut on her left hand because of the collision.
Rodman did what he used to do in the NBA: during the halftime break, he took off his shoes not minding his white socks were soiled; he did stretching before plunging into action, and when he was on the bench, Rodman veiled his head with a white towel.
The other Legends
NBA Legends’ Alex English, an NBA scoring champion in the 1980s, seemed to have lost his touch despite scoring 11 points. Darryl Dawkins, famous for his rim-breaking dunks in the 70s and 80s, could no longer execute a dunk but was more effective clowning around and showcasing skills as a Harlem Globetrotter.
While former dynamo Calvin Murphy was finally slowed down by age. Otis Birdson and Sidney Moncrief opted to sit on the bench and call the shots for the team.
Against the aging NBA Legends, the SMC All-Star, made up of former Philippine Basketball Association stars, looked good, erecting a 20-10 edge on Allan Caidic’s two triples.
Fresh legs
When Moncrief infused fresh legs into his line-up, Famutimi, Allen, Collin Boddicker and Chad Wilkerson responded by quickly taking a 28-24 lead, 1:33 left in the opening quarter.
Caidic and Tony Boy Espinosa canned back-to-back triples as SMC regained the lead, 34-32, with 10:17 in the second before Rodman scored his first basket at the 10:01 mark and Famutimi made his first dunk at the 8:19 mark for a 36-34 lead.
The SMC All-Stars’ last taste of the lead was at the 6:47 mark when Peter Martin, Ato Agustin and Chris Bolado connived for a 40-36 edge. It was all Legends show from thereon as the Americans took the half, 67-51.
The SMC All-Stars also had their share of dunks courtesy of Peter Martin, who scored his first basket over Rodman. Martin, however, regretted having stuffed the ball.
“Nakakahiya na sundan (I fell embarrassed trying to imitate their dunks),” said Martin grinning. “I’d rather watch Famutimi do his stuff.”
Famutimi topped the game with 33 points, Allen added 25 and Reid scored 13. Caidic and Agustin topped the SMC All-Stars with 17 points each.
On Monday, the NBA Legends will play against a team from the PBA at the Araneta Coliseum.
USA Legends (124) – Famutimi 33, Allen 25, Reid 13, English 11, Boddicker 10, Rodman 5, Dawkins 5, Murphy 4. SMC All-Star (94) – Caidic 17, Agustin 17, Espinosa 7, Martin 6, Bolado 6, Pacheco 6, Magtulis 5, Jose 5, Sta. Maria 4, Jarencio 3, Loyzaga 2, Cordero 2. Quarters: 30-28; 67-51; 94-74; 124-94. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
