PBA Legends take center stage in 'Shoot for your Dreams' today

CEBU, Philippines - They were once the brightest players in the pro league who are now treading different paths in life - from coaching to managing their respective businesses.

Today, these stars will again glitter in the hardcourt as they show the form that brought them to the limelight during their prime via the "Shoot for your Dreams", a basketball exhibition game spearheaded by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Gametime is set at 5 p.m. at the Cebu Coliseum and is open to the public for free.

The Manila PBA Legends will showcase their unparalleled talents against their counterparts led by former four-time MVP Ramon "El Presidente" Fernandez. He will be backed up by three other ex-PBA stars in Bonel Balingit,  UV Lancers head coach Felix "Donbel" Belano, Jr. and the former Alaska Aces sniper Roel Gomez, now head coach of the UC Webmasters and the proud father of beauty queen Alexis Rizzini Gomez.

Also playing for the Cebu PBA Legends are Cebu City Mayor Michael L. Rama, a deadshot from the three-point territory, Cebu First District Representative Samsam Gullas, Cebu South District Representative Rodrigo "Bebot" Abellanosa and businessman Glen Soco, now news anchor of TV5 Aksyon Bisaya.

They will be beefed up by Specialista graduates of TESDA, the primover of the event as part of its social program. It aims to give their graduates the opportunity to show their skills apart from the technical know-how they learned from the said learning institution. Thus, it is billed as "Shoot for your Dreams" to encourage them to fulfill their goals soon as they seek employment here and abroad.

Suiting up for the Manila PBA Legends are the 6-foot-9 skyscraper Marlou Aquino, Kenneth Duremdes, now head coach of his alma mater Adamson University, Bobby Jose, Rodney Santos and Bal David. They will be reinforced by some members of the local media including The Freeman sports editor Manny Villaruel, Sun.Star Super Balita sport editor Jun Migallen, the Cebu Daily News tandem of Calvin Cordova and Jonas Panerio, Wilbert Taborada of TV5 Radyo singko, Edgar Escalante of ABS-CBN and Jun Solon of GMA-7.

They will play alongside TESDA Secretary Joel Villanueva, a member of the RP Youth team while playing for the University of Sto. Tomas juniors varsity two decades ago. (FREEMAN)