MANILA -- Without showing signs of rust, former San Miguel Beer slotman Allan Caidic lived up to his lofty billing late Friday as he paced the Red Team against the White Team, 177-167, in the second National Basketball Association (NBA) Asia Challenge at the Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City.
In a game marked by seven deadlocks and 19 lead changes, the “Triggerman” as Caidic is fondly called during his heydays in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), seemed to be unstoppable as he dished out 54 points on a 14-of-26 clip from the outside (53.8 percent).
The 47-year-old pro legend listed three rebounds, one assist and a steal to his name, which earned raves not only from thousands of fans who paid for a hefty ticket price but also from the visiting NBA legends and NBA D-League members.
Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Glen Rice, five-time NBA All Star member Chris Webber, 1989 Rookie of the Year Mitch Richmond and 1996 NBA best defensive player Gary Payton, alongside four D-League members were in town for the weeklong NBA initiative.
“I really prepared for this game. I worked hard in a couple of days and good thing I was able to deliver,” said Caidic.
“I was inspired by the game because I practiced hard in the last few days and when they gave me the ball, the pressure is there. Everybody is expecting that you will make that shot, so I just focused and just enjoyed the game,” he added.
Webber, for his part, can’t contain his admiration for the “incredible” showing of Caidic, who held the record of listing 79 markers in a single PBA game in November 1991.
“We kept on saying this but Triggerman was incredible. He was really able to make those shots,” the 1994 NBA Rookie of the Year said. “Truthfully, I really wasn’t surprise on the Filipino players. If you are a basketball player, you know that there are good players around the world. I want to go back and tell everybody of my experience here. “
All White Team members of outgoing San Miguel coach Siot Tanquincen scored double-digit figures but that proved wanting as the Red squad wrest the control button in the payoff period and wrap the game for good. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)